Indiana Palladium, Volume 1, Number 23, Lawrenceburg, Dearborn County, 10 June 1825 — Page 1

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aw Equality of rights is nature's plan And following nature is the .march of man. Barlow. Volume L L'AWRENCEBURGH, INDIANA; FRIDAY, JUNE 10, 1825. Number 23.

PRINTED AND PUBLISHED si. gshsg aa v. sulley, OJV EVERY FRIDAY.

BARON DE KALE. This good man was major-general in the Americnn army during the revolutionary war. He was a German by birth, a brave and m?ritorious officer. Ke had attained a high reputation in military service, and was a knight -of the order of military merit, and a brigadier general in the armies of France. He accompanied the Marquess de Lafayette to this country, and having profered his services to Congress, he was appointed to the office of major general. He repaired to the main army, in which he served at the head of the Maryland division, very much respected. Possessing a stout frame, with excellent health, no officer was more able to encounter the toils of war. Moderate in mental powers, as in literary acquirements, he excelled chiefly in practical knowledge of men and things, gained during a life by close and accurate investigation of the cause and effects of passing events. No man was better qualified for the un

dertaking. He was sober, drinking water only: abstemious to excess: living on bread, ii t - a ii- . i ;

sometimes wiin oeei soup, ai outer urne with cold beef; industrious, it being his con-

light his candle, devote himself to writing,

which was never intermitted during the day, but when interrupted by his short meals, or by attention to his official duty; and profoundly secret. No man surpassed this gentleman in simplicity and condescension; which gave to his deportment a cast of amiability extremely ingratiating, exciting confidence and esteem. At the battle of Camden, in South-Carolina, the Baron do Kalb commanded the right wing of the American army. At the commencement of the action, the great body of the militia, who formed the left wing of the army, on being charged with fixed bayonets by the British infantry, threw down their arms, and with the utmost precipita-

his generous wound., he breathed his last benedictions on his faithful brave division. General Washington, many years after, on a visit to Camden, inquired for the grave of De Kalb. After looking on it awhile,

with a contenance marked with thought, he breathed a deep sigh, and exclaimed, "so there lies the brave De Kalb; the generous stranger, who came from a foreign land to light our battles, and to water with his blood the tree of our liberty. Would to God he had lived to share its fruits!" On the 14th of October, 1780, Congress erected a monument to his memory, in the

town of Anapolis, in the state of Maryland.

CITY OF MEXICO. The following account of the Capital of the Mexican Empire is from the pen of an American who has recently visited that country. It will be found highly interesting, and as it is a country which is every day growing in importance, and of which too little is known; we would recommend it to the perusal of our readers. Village Herald.

The architecture of Mexico is truly splendid, and the buildings massive beyond con

ception. Houses of iron six or seven hun

dred feet square, and occupied by a single

family, are common. 1 heir walls are ol

volcanic stone, well plastered over and

whitewashed, many of the houses beautiful

ly painted without and within. I hey are

built to last for ever, and in consequence of

there being scaray a particle of wood in the

whole fabric, arc fire-prool. The stair steps

are marble, the railings and balustrades of

iron and brass, and the floors of marble or tile. The doors are plated over with sheet iron or copper, and the windows are like those of a prison, without shutters, and secured by strong grates of iron. The wonderful buildings together with the great regularity and wideness of the streets, their elegant pavements and fine sewers gave to the city an appearance which as far surpasses my expectation as the country around fell below it. The church put up by Cortez looks new and undefuced in

any part. Their splendid Cathedral cost

Cuba. There is moisture enough to sup

port vegetation the whole year round, and

three or four crops of some species arc rais

ed. But when Humboldt speaks of three

or four crops of corn and wheat, upon any other part of the high ground or table land,

he does it without authority ; lor during the

dry season of eight months, it is well known . ' - . .1 1 1 IX

that there is not humidity sumcient.

The learned man's observations on the

features and agriculture of the country, are as all modern travellers agree, very inaccurate. Owing to a want of timber, there is

not a fence in all the country, and ditching is useless, for the clouds of sand which drift before the wind soon fill them up. The

farms, therefore, have herdsmen who watch

the stock day and night.

Mexico is overtopped by mountains on three sides, and the volcanoes Popocatepett

and Iztaccieuti, clad in eternal snows, rear their hoary heads full in front.

The ladies, in appearance and manners,

are not so pleasing as the gentlemen. They

are in general of dark complexion with

coarse features, and countenances express ive neither of intelligence nor refined feel

ing. They are all critics upon bull and

cock fighting the two favourite sports of all

classes. On one occasion I attended ahull-

baiting, where there were about 20,000 persons collected to witness the sport. It com

menced at 3 P. M. and by 6 o clock there

were six bulls and four horses led from the

ring with their bowels training on the ground,

while others with their riders were much maimed. The sight seemed to give life and

animation to the ladies, and excited immod

erate laughter. They are all, young and

old, smokers of tobacco; and the first civili

ty offered the visitar.t is a segar and invita tion to puff with them.

Mexico at this time exhibits a scene of

horror and human degradation. The streets

are throughout the daT crowded with beg gars, and at night with prostitutes and as

sassins. The mines, in consequence of the

violence of the government and capacity of

the rulers who seized on all the wealth ta

tion fled from the field. In this battle the -the work of ninety years constant labour.

Americans suffered a severe defeat and loss. The continental troops, who formed the right

wing of the army, inferior as they were in

numbers to the British, stood their ground,

and maintained the conflict with great resolution. Never did men acquit themselves

better. The Americans lost the whole ofi

their artillery, eight field pieces, upwards of two hundred wagons, and the greater part of their baggage. The royal army fought with great bravery, hut their victory was in a great measure owing to their superiority

in cavalry, and the precipitate retreat of the!

American militia. De Kalb, sustaining by his splendid ex

ample the courageous etfort of our inferior force, in his last resolute attempt to seize victory, received eleven wounds, and was 'made "prisoner. His lingering life was rescued from immediate death by the brave interposition of lieutenant-colonel du Buysson, one. of his aid-de-camps, who embracing the prostrate general, received into his own body .i i -. , i , i i- i r- t i :

trie nayoiteis pointed at nis irienu. uevuner de Buysson rushed through the clashing bayonets, and stretching his arms over the body of the fallen hero, exclaimed, "save the Baron de Kalb 1 save the Baron de Kalb !" The British officers interposed and prevented his immediate destruction; but he survived the action but a few hours. To a British officer, who kindly condoled with him in his misfortune, he replied, "I thank you for your generous sympathy, but I die the death 1 always prayed for; the death of a soldier fighting" for the rights of man." The heroic veteran, though treated with every attention, survived but a few davs.

Never were the last moments of a soldier

better employed. He dictated a letter to

general Smallwood, who succeeded to the command of his division, breathing in every

word his sincere and ardent affection for his

officers and soldierejfepressing his admiration of their late nobl, though unsuccessful

stand ; reciting the eulogy which their brave

ry 'had extorted from the enemy; together

with the lively delight such testimony of

thei rvalue had excited in his own mind, ther hovering on the shadowy confines of life

Feeling the pressure of death, he stretched

cut bis quivering hand to his friend and aid-

Une Hundred thuusanu noiiars i, in our country, thought an extravagant price for the building of a house, while here one million is not unfrequently expended. In short there is no city in the world that can compare with it in number of fine buildings. It is true, that in magnitude it falls far below many cities of flic old world, and is probably but little superior to that of Philadelphia and New York; though notwithstanding, it

has the advantage of all others in one respect, there not being an indifferent building in it.

The city has a permanent population of one hundred and thirty-seven thousand; one

fourth of which have no habitation, but pass their existence in the open streets. At present there is a temporary influx, probably

of one thousand of the latter description of

population. The valley of Anabauc, of which Humboldt speaks as being so spacious and well cultivated, is scarcely entitled to the name

of a valley. It is a narrow strip of country,

closely bordered with hills and mountains covered with volcanic rocks and barren sands. There is not one sprig of native

timber, neither on the hills nor in the valley,

near the city. Nor is this owing to the

lands being cultivated, (for there is more

than one hall untillable) but to the extreme

terillity of the soil, which in many places

consists of dry sand; and as there are eight months in the year during which it never

rains, whatever little vegetation there is be

comes as dry as a crisp. The Indians pack

brambles, coal and mule s dung the distance

of many leagues upon their backs, and sell

it as fuel for cooking; lor tne inhabitants make no other use of tire, there not being a chimney nor fire place in the empire.

Mexico has a vegetable market not inferior to any in the world. These vegetables are cultivated upon what Humboldt very

erroneously denominates floating gardens. These floating gardens are spots of ground, reclaimed from the swamp on the borders of the lake, by digging ditches and canals in different directions, intersecting each other; thus affording a free passage for boats and skiffs to pass in every direction from

path to path these arc the iiaron s "lloat-

dfc-carop, Chevalier a-i B-iyson, proud of) ing garden?," as firmly fixed as the Island ofj

ken from them have been neglected. En

terprising capitalists of the country, have left it, and carried away their wealth; while

others who had money out have called it in

and hoard it for safe keeping; thus leaving

the country almost without money, and re ducing many to acts they would scorn in bet

tcr times. Colonels and priests are now to

be found among the most importunate beg gars.

Intellectual cultivation is alwavs at a low

ebb, and has ever been greatly inferior to

what we have been led to believe. Upon

my inquiring of an intelligent friend some

time resident in that city, and who is wn

ting the history of the country, what the pre sent state of intellectual and moral improve

ment was, and whether it had ever been

such as described by Humboldt's History of

New Spain, abstracted from his mathematical demonstrations, his statistic and philosophical observations, may be compared to a picture of a deformed object; unless, indeed, the physical as well as intellectual character of the country, has, since he wrote, been totally subverted. "About 84 in 100 persons," continued he "are natives and casts of different gradations; 80 in 100 mayread, a smaller number may write. Born, bred and educated in the grosest country, a liberal, sound sense of religion is unknown ; and when I have proposed to the energy the gratuitous distribution of the Holy Evangelists, to the extent of a thousand copies,

!l have been told that the book was inter

dicted, and it was observed, that the people were more happy in ignorance. Assassinations are common in the streets, yet I have never heard of a punishmentnor complaint." Notwithstanding the number of the aged, the blind, the dumb, the decrepid and maimed of all ages, sex and colours, who infest the streets for alms, I hear of no charitable institution for their relief; and the expression of pity, compassion, or humanity, has never struck my ears from man or woman.

As to intelligence what can be expected from a people secluded from the world and prohibited the use of books? Will mere scolastic acquirements, scattered with a sparing hand, convey to the mind useful knowledge or practical information? No! ninety in one hundred are buried in the profoundest ignorance, without moral, manners, or a ray of intellectual improvement. Thefts,

falsehood, fraud, gambling, and fornication,!

ire familiar, and excite neither disgust nor

lorror, and with the exception of the first

and third imputations, pervade all ranks

and professions, from the purpled bishop and the bespangled marquess, down to the

strolling mendicant. Can such a benighted

ace step suddenly into a free and repre

sentative government the basis of which are moral principle, intellectual light, pri

vate virtue, and public spirit? Alas : I must

legative the proposition. .-; , I will add a few observations on the tr?ct

of country lying between Tampico and , the

city of Mexico. I his tract is one hundred

ind twenty leagues in extent, the greater

part of which is a perfect wilderness, inhab

ited alone by wolves, tigers, panthers, and monkeys, in passing it the traveller must procure mules, (horses are not sure footed

enough for the road,) a muleteer and guide,

ind pack all the necessaries of life. 1 he

scenery on this tract is truly romantic and sublime the road winding through deep and dark chasms, or over mountains the most

precipitous and elevated of the Eastern, Cor-

dillfias. The traveller, after leaving the coast, finds himself gradually ascending till

he attains an elevation of from three to live thousand feet. This is the usual height of heavy land clouds, and as there is but little variation in altitude for the next hundred

miles, he is every evening enveloped in clouds and heavy dews. This region is

handsomely variegated and the, scenery beautiful beyond conception. The timber

is palm, interspersed with groves of thick

foilage, and under shrubbery of citrons,

limes, lemons, and other fruits. The roads.

after leaving this region of palm, ascends

briskly through oak land to that ot pine.

Mountains nowr rise on mountains, till they

majestically tower above the clouds. Tlu; traveller is nowr compensated for what he suifered from the humidity of the atmos

phere below for he can sit in a clear and

serene sunshine and look down upon the clouds and lightning, and storms that pass

in terrible array many thousand feet beneath him. Here might the poet c en template with rapture the sublime works of ..nature, and the painter portray more wonderful, rude and majestic features. The track on some of those peaks is so narrow as scarcely to afford room for a single mule to pass; in consequence of which the muleteers have taken the precaution to bell their mules, and such as are going from the city, hearing the bells, await the passage of those travelling tow ards it. Previous to this regulation there was much confusion, and those poor beasts were not unfrequently precipitated from the road, and with their packs dashed to pieces against the rocks belowOn passing those straits for the first time, you are seized with a vertigo, while the awful suhlimary of the scenery around paraly-

the movement ol the feet,

5CS

Travelling. The rapidity of our travelling since the introduction of steam boats, is only equalled by its cheapness. By the advertisements which appear in the various papers along the route, we perceive that a

journey from Richmond, in Virginia to

lioston, taking in Washington, Baltimore, Philadelphia and New-York, can be accomplished in about five days, and at a Cost verylittle exceeding thirty dollars. A. line of lighters has also been established, to be" towed by steam boats, which occupies about twenty-four hours in the passage. These lighters are chiefly intended for the transportation of merchandise; but passengers who choose this mode on account of its superior safety or economy, are taken at one dollar A recent Pittsburgh paper mentions the arrival there of a steam boat from the Harmony establishment, in Illinois, a distance of nearly 1 100 miles, in six dats. Yet a few years, and we may see the two-and-tw enty degrees of latitude which divide the northern limits of Maine from the southern point of the Floridas, traversed by: a steam boat, in less time than it consumed, a few years since, to travel from Washington to Boston; and when it will no longer require the exercise of human ingenuity to preserve the fruits of the . tropics, in order that the gourmands of our northern extremity may partake of them in common with the children of the equator. Xalional Journal.

A late law of .Maryland, prohibit s every rCs gro from carrying a gun or keeping a dog!