Indiana Palladium, Volume 1, Number 43, Lawrenceburg, Dearborn County, 28 October 1825 — Page 1

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Equalitv of rights is nature's plan And following nature is the march ih m n. ozr, LAWRENCEBURGII, INDIANA ; FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 1325. Number 43. Volume I.

PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY 2KL GREGG & D. V. GULLS Y, O.Y EVERY FRIDAY.

From the JV Y. Statesman. LETTERS FROM EUROPE. Liverpool, 20tii of Julyt, 25.

informed you of our arrival at this place. We have now been here a week, and before leaving for London I proceed to give a hasty

sketch of Liverpool, premising that the heat

of the weather, which appears to me more

expressive than Ihave ever felt it m New

York, and the necessary fatigue of rambling

Over tut; luwiij nave uusu uiij my uui vusauu

left no inclination for writing. For several

days, the thermometer has stood at about 90

degrees in the shade; a phenomenon which scarcely has a parallel in the annals of the

place. Such a temperature is here the more intolerable, since it was unexpected, and the

inhabitants are not so well prepared to en

counter it, as with us; having no awnings

to shade the buildings and side walks, and

nothing cool to allay thirst. A cargo of ice

would be worth, m Liverpool to day, twice

as much as a cargo of Cotton. The former

would find a ready market, while the latter is at present rather a drug. Some of the

wealthier citizens have large and commodious ice-houses, which are entirely empty,

owing to the mildness of the last winter.

But to return from this unique introduc

tion. It would he sheer affectation in me to

pretend that I felt on landing at Liverpool

any of those high and intense emotions,

which have thrilled through the hearts of others. The first step upon the shores of

our ancestors, the land of story and of song,

which has occupied so much of our thoughts

from the days of boyhood, awakened few of the ten thousand trains of ideas, with which the island is associated. There Was no kneeling to kiss the parent earth, and less enthusiasm at our debarkation, than was anticipated. Indeed, I can yet hardly realize, that I am in the land of Shakspearc and Milton, Newton and Locke, Chatham and Fox. The apathy of feeling may perhaps in some measure be accounted for from our gradual approach. A ride through Irelnnd; the hab

it of gazing day after day upon the ruins of

castles and other antiquities; a. survey ot scenery not dissimilar and equally consecrated by genius, had doubtless in some degree blunted the edge of feeling, and rendered curiosity less intense. Another reason may be found in the external appearance of Liverpool, which is comparatively a modern town, not unlike New York: although it was founded eight

hundred years ago, yet the greater part ofj

it has sprung up within the last halt century. By a comparison of its number of houses and population at different periods, 1 hud that its recent growth has been nearly as rapid

as that of our metropolis. Not a vestige of

spirit of improvement, an accession of population, and the conveniences of commerce

have swept away every relic of antiquity,

and left no monuments to carry the mind back to other times. Even taste has in many instances yielded to a spirit of enterprise, and been violated by a thirst for gain. The

castles of the Molyneauxs and the Stanleys

have been demolished and removed even to

the last stone; new churches are erected on

the sites of ancient structures; and the mar

incr, as he spreads his canvass to the breeze

display of goods in the shop windows is remarkably neat, resembling that of Broadway

and Cornhill. When to these circumstances are added similarity of dress and man

ners in both sexes, and an actual mixture ot

population in the two places, the difference becomes so slight as to be scarcely observa

ble: and since our arrival at Liverpool, we

have in all respects felt ourselves very much at home. The intercourse is in fact so fre

quent, and the interchange of inhabitants so common, that the resemblance between New

York and Liverpool is much more striking,

than between remote parts of our own coun

trv.

The first objects, which arrested our at

tcntion on arriving at this place, were its

splendid docks. These far exceed any thing

of the kind I had before seen, or which I

shall sec, to whatever countries mv tour may

extend. The disadvantages of nature have more than been counterbalanced by the

works of art; and what seemed an insur

mountable barrier to the conveniences of

trade, has led to its greatest facilities. Such

are the achievements of wealth, enterprise.

and perseverance. The tides in the estua

ry of the Mersey, which rise twenty-five or

thirty feet, are so rapid that vessels cannot

with any kind of convenience lie along its

shores, to take in their cargoes. At low water, their docks would be fifteen or twenty

feet below the wharves, along which as one

walks, he sees boats sailing far beneath him.

These embarrassments induced the mer

chants to construct artificial channels resem

bling the locks and basins of canals, extend

ing into the very heart of the town, and to

the doors of the warehouses. V essels go m

at flood tide; the gates are then closed ; and

States. They are decidedly the finest ships

n the port, both externally and internally.

You may tell a Yankee vessel, as far as

you can see her. one sits like a bwan upon the water, with her deck forming a beau-

iful curve, and her bow not so round and ull as those of other nations.

In many places by the sides of the docks,

open buildings in the form oi markets, have

leen erected to protect the sea-taring men md merchants as well as their merchandise

rom the inclemency of the weather, in load-

no- nrwl nnlnM rlirior vessels. Some of the

warehouses also have piazzas, which are ex

remelv convenient in rase ot ram. In short,

no expense has been spared in promoting and

acihtating the commerce ot the port. a ne

tores are spacious and commodious, some

of them being 12 or 14 stories high, with

ackles for raising articles expeditiously to

he upper loft. Between the range of docks and the Mer

sev is an extensive walk, called the parade,

with a massive brick wall something over 10

feet in height, and about a mile in extent

Its utility is not obvious, and certainly it is

verv little conducive to ornament. The one

on the immediate margin of the river, form

ing a railing to the penpendicular wall, i: apparently more necessary, to prevent per

sons in the night from tumbling down a pre

cipice of JO feet. At convenient distances

along this high embankment are flights of

stone steps, and in one place, there is a road

passable with horses, to the edge ot the wa

tor, forming a place for embarkation, in the

steam boats and other vessels.

There is a striking peculiarity in the carts

and drav-horses of this town. Both are

heavy beyond any tiling which has met my

navigation, from one whan to another.

These arc called wet docks. In other basins

vessels are high and dry at ebb tide. The

latter are distinct from the docks, where

ships arc caulked and repaired, with as mucl

ease as they could be on the stocks. It is in

vain for us to look for the same convenien

ces at New York; as the tide is not equal to

the depth of the hull. The difficulty may

however in some measure be obviated by excavations, and by work of art. There is

scarcely any thing, which the ingenuity o

our countrymen has not been able to accom

plish, and there is no deficiency of enter prise, I believe, in the Dry Dock Associa

lion.

The Liverpool docks are constructed o

large stones, accurately hewn, and adjustet

with most exact masonry. Their sides are

as smooth and as handsome, as the walls o

a house. Vessels move or lie by the side o

them, without the slightest attention. Some

idea may be formed of the expense of these gigantic works, when it is known that upwards of four miles of artificial wharf has been constructed in this way with a perpendicular wall thirty feet in height. For the greater part of this distance the channels are artificial, in some places excavated, and in others filled up. On the walls, the feet are marked from 1 to 30, corresponding to the marks on the prow of the ships, so that the depth can be ascertained at a glance. Across the channel, swing bridges, like the locks of a canal, some of them of cast iron, are placed at convenient distances. The piles along the wharves arc also in some instances of iron. In short, the wluvle structure seems calculated to endure for ages. The view of these docks, filled with the

commerce of the world, and presenting a tor

sufficient water is retained for purposes of observation. One of the carts, I shoulc

I... a II 1 f

think', would outweigh lour oi ours, lorrning

a load for an ordinary team. 1 hey are ap

parently more unwieldy than Pennsylvania

wagons. I he horses however, are propor

tionably large, being of the real Brobennagg

breed. I heir legs strong but chimsey

They lumber along the streets, with a ja

like the carriages of heavy artillery, carrying

sometimes, three or four tons at a load. It is

said these horses degenerate, when export ed toother countries. An anecdote was re lated to us, which, if it were strictly true

would be strongly illustrative of thei

strength. A carman it is said was employ

ed with his span in drawing lumber from i

ship; the Captain was provoked with the

tardiness of the process, and ordered the dri

ver to whip up his team; the horses had in

tow a large stick, and in quickening thei

pace, carried away the stern of the ship ! I

do not record this as absolute matter of fact: it is enough to say that the dray-horses in

this city are of very extraordinary size and strength. Soon after our arrival, a gentleman who came passenger with us, and to whose polite attentions we are greatly indebted, conducted us to the Exchange, which is on a scale commensurate with the other commercial conveniences of the town. It is in truth a

o very great advantage, being rich, chaste

and highly ornamental. The lower story of

he eastern wing is thrown into a spacious

room for the accommodation of merchants

md the transaction of business. It is fur- - ii -ii i .-i

nisnea wun newspapers, and mercantile conveniences of every description. On the

wall is an index, in the form of a clock, show-

ng the direction of the wind: the hand shiftng with every gast. An accurate registry

is kept of all the arrivals, and of vessels be-

ow communicated by signals, ilere also

the state of the market may be learned from

a record of the public sales, and the articles

entered at the Custom House. In the sec-

ond story is Lloyd's Room; and adjacent arc

i coffee-room and other apartments for the

use of merchants. The remainder of the

building is occupied bv the counting-rooms

and offices of individuals.

In the centre of the area is a monument

commemorative of the four naval battles of Lord Nelson St. Vincent, the Nile, Co

penhagen, and Trafalgar. It is built of

Y estmoreland marble, of a Somersett hue,

suited to the character of the ornament.

The device appeared to me to be very bad taste, but the execution admirable. From

the basement rises a circular pedestal, around which are ranged four naked images in chains,, in the attitude of weeping their

captivity. Over the head ot each, on the

circular column, are four times repeated the memorable words of Lord Nelson, before the

battle of Trafalgar "England expects every man to do his duty." As much as to say, it

is the duty of England to keep the rest ol the world in chains. The device is a barbarous expression ofpower, without its at' tendant of either justice or mercy. It was gratifying, however, to find no emblem cf America in the group of captive nationsAs a work of taste, the monument appeared to me too crowded and wanting in simplicity. Nelson is represented in a dying attitude. Death's skeleton hand is extended from the folds of a flag, and placed upon bis breast; and above, the figure of Glory is putting the fourth crown of victory upon his sword. There is also an incongruity in the design. A British sailor, full armed, is in the act of leaping forward to avenge the death of Nelson for what? for conquering his enemies, and confining them in chains! The whole expense of this pile of buildings, with its appertenances, cost about 200000. raised by subscription.

The following remarks from the Boston Medical Intelligencer, which is a good and simple method, suggested to correct the vitiated atmosphere in bed-chambers, is recommended to your particular attention: 'Small closets and concealed beds are extremely injurious, especially to young people and invalids. When persons are from ne cessity obliged to sleep in them, it will be advisable every morning immediately after

rising, to displace all the bedclothes, and ii

the sky be serene, to open the doors and windows. The various methods which lux

magnificent pile of buildings, said to be un-'ury has invented to make houses close and

no longer bends to the image of St. Nicholas! est of masts, rising among the houses and

which once rose near the harbour, as the tutelar divinity of the port, to whom the sailor made an offering and implored a blessing

upon his voyage. Light-houses, beacons, manufactories and wind-mills (the most unpoetical of all imagery) crown the neighboring heights, and disappoint the eye in search for any thing venerable. The streets, houses, shops, and public buildings are in keeping with these outlines. They are of brick and stone, ail in the modem style, and differing very little from those

of New York. A moist climate and the great quantity of coal smoke has given the town a dingy aspect. The streets are quite as irregular as ours; and Knickerbocker might here find a second edition of his cowpaths. There is also the same bustle the ' same noise the same activity through the town.-f-Every or.c moves with a hurried step, in straight lines, and with an air of bu'siness denicted in his countenance. The

stores in various parts of the town, is at once strikingly novel and interesting. It is by far the most peculiar and prominent feature in the town. The most rigid regulations are enforced in the police of the docks. A fire would be destructive not only to the shipping in the basin, but would also endanger the neighboring stores and houses. Such accidents are guarded against, by prohibiting the smoking of cigars upon the wharves,

the importation of gunpowder within the docks, and other regulations equally strict. The officers live in buildings erected pur

posed alefng the quays, and are- constantly

upon the alert. To one who takes an interest in commercial affairs, or in naval architecture walk by the side of the wharves,

where vessels may be seen from almost eve

ry port on the globe, is both instructive and

agreeable. Prince's Dock is tire most splen did: and it so happens that this is lh ren

dezvous of the vessels from thf United

equalled bv any thing of the kind in Great

Britain, or perhaps in the world. It is almost as well known in the U. States as it is

in England, and any notice of it may seem!

warm, contribute not a little to render them

unwholesome. No house can be wholesome unless the air has a free passage

through it. r or which reason houses ough

to be superfluous. But should my letters: daily to be ventilated by opening opposite

embrace only what is new to our readers,

they would be as laconic as the correspondence between Sam Footc and his mother;

for I am treading at every mile a beaten

track, over which tourist after tourist from

our country has travelled. I am actually afraid to look at the sketches of my predecessors, lest indolence should lead ine into

temptation, or the perusal of other journals

disclose to me, how stale must be the mate

rials of my own, Our readers must permit me to write, as if I were the first traveller,

instead of the last. They must expect "a bushel of chafTto a kernel of wheat,-' in a se

ries of sketches, written currentc calamo, em

bracing topics both new and old. So here

comes the Liverpool Exchange, described

perhaps for the live hundredth time. This beautiful edifice occupies three skies of a square, which is 197 feet by ITS, and

paved with flags. It is two stories high, built of a kind of free stone from Foxteth Park, resembling that in the rear of our City Hall or the Academy at Albany, though lighter coloured and not so handsome as ei ther. Its proportions are uncommonly fine and its Corinthian pillars, as well as the magnificent arches supporting the piazzas show

windows, and admitting a current of fresh

air into every room. Beds, instead of being made up as soon as people rise out of them, ought to be turned down and exposed to the fresh air from the open windows through the day. This will expel any noxious vapour, and cannot fail to promote the health of the inhabitants."

Rail Roads. All the recent advices from Europe, we should rather say England, concur in giv ing a preference to Rail ways over Canals or Turnpike Roads. All the advantages claimed for them in England, hold equally good in this country, and there nre, others which must command attention. The rail road is not subject, like canals, to the obstruction of Ice; it would therefore enable us to receive the produce of the western country earlier and later than it could be received by water communication, and in the same way enable us to take our goods earlier to market in the spring, and later in the fall, than our more northern neighbors. A principal cause of the late great rise in iron in England, .was the demand for that artile fr the construction of Rail ways, Phil Press.