Indiana Palladium, Volume 1, Number 50, Lawrenceburg, Dearborn County, 16 December 1825 — Page 1

Equality of rights is natlrl s i-lax And following nature is the march of man. Burtozc. Volume I. LAWRENCEBURGH, INDIANA; FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1825. Number 50.

PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY

S3. GREGG & D. V. CULLS Y,

OX EVERY FRIDAY.

From the New York Mirror. MOSQUIT )EL:, I was very tired, and went x-.i bed about

eleven. It was a hot summer nigiit, and so

light was my room with the soft yellow beams of the moon, that it was long before I could win "nature's sweet restorer5 to mine eyelids. As I am a gentleman of exceedingly thoughtful disposition. I was not at a loss for amusement. I began to run over the eveits of the day that was gone; and after some little preamble, my meditations gathered around the pretty form of a certain lady of our city, and I lulled myself into a gentle slumber by thinking of her. I lay for some time in that most luxurious state between sleeping and waking just on

the boundary line of mortality with half

my senses yet clinging to this earth, and the rest already beginning to rove in the lightness of freedom through the realms of fancy. I was indeed in a most delightful state of mind, and scarcely felt the couch that gave rest to my weary frame. Fairy visions, beautiful as the hues of the rainbow, floated in mine imagination. The conceptions' of fancy embodied themselves the very wishes of my waking moments were half accomplished ; and I became as it were the mighty ruler of a world of mine own. Sometimes I thought I was falling through the immensity of space, and passed by planets in my way; but it was pleasant (o me, and I seemed to be wheeling in graceful circles in the air, as in my younger days I have seen the eagle do, faraway in the calm sky. Sometimes I thought I was sporting in the green meadow, romping and racing "with the most lovely maidens I had ever beheld ; and in a "proh pudor" 1 dreamed I was actually kissing Mrs. L . In short, gentle reader, some kind spirit had lifted me far above the scenes of earthly degradation.

and I was revelling in the gay pleasures of!

another world. At length my fancy began to cut terrible capers. The pretty girls the green meadows and Mrs. L 's rosy lips passed away; and methought I beheld a battle. 1 ?tood upon the brow of a rugged mountain. The sea dashed and foamed on one side, and the crash of war arose on the other. The wind blew in roaring whirlwinds, and bore the white foam of the ocean in snowv wreaths along the air. The sky was blackening with huge clouds, that rolled like a troubled ocean immediately over our heads. The lightning burst through the gloom in bright sheets of fire, or quivered in terrible lustre along the dark sky, as though its mighty vault had been rent in twain. The thunder crashed along the heavens with a noise as if ten thousand worlds had tumbled together and shivered into ruins. I turned mine eye from the stormy clouds to gaze upon the light. I saw warriors bestriding fiery horses they rushed over the shrieking bodies of the dying, and mingled their might in one terrible thunder of ruin. Sabres flashed the thunder and the cannon shook the earth with their mingled tumult. Shrieks, shouts, and the clashing of arms, sounded in mine ear, and I was about to fly away from the scene, when I saw. in the ve

ry midst of the battle, the form of a beautiful woman: her raven ringlets were streaming in the wind, and her white hands uplifted in terror at the desolation around. I was rushing to her relief, when I saw a huge ruffian approach to her side he seized her silken ringlets he tore them from her head and dared, in the insolence of his triumph, to grasp her throat; and the shriek, that arose above the storm of war, was answered by a laugh. Another, and another, roughly seized the beautiful being: until I shouted revenge, and rushed to the rescue. Many a. bright blade flashed around me, many a swift bullet whizzed by mine er, but I tore the falchion from the clenched hand of a dying wretch, and mingled in battle. The lofty figures of my enemies bore back at my

approach. I cut my way to the terrified!

girl: and when she saw her brutal insulters gnashing their teeth at my feet she sprang to my side, and clung to my bosom. A giant monster struck at her white forehead. 1 turned my wrath on him his blade shivered into a thousand atoms I cleaved hi coward skull to the jaw, and he fell shriek

ing from his horse. Dreadful were my struggles terrible was my revenge. I bore her back amidst the maddened furv of all aronnd sprang with my lovely burden upon a fleet steed; the noble animal lied like the wind; the clouds disappeared as we rode;

the sun shone again in bright cheerfulness

the birds sung music to our way and in a

few moments methought we were in one of

the most beautiful countries I ever saw, and heard the clang of war only as some gentle breeze bore it at intervals to our ear. Read

er, reader, who shall tell the happiness of self to rest again, under the foolish suppo-

my bosom, when I bore my pretty maiden

from the saddle, and felt that we were free! Roses clustered in blushing wreaths around u, and perfumed breezes kissed away the drops that exertion had gathered on my brow. I looked upon the being I had rescued; and, looking I loved. She smiled upon me her lips parted she was beginning to speak, when the voice of a distant trumpet broke upon our ears. Nearer, and more near, came the fatal sound; sometimes breathing soft music, but as it approached it gave a long loud thundering twang, and

I awoke. The fairy scene vanished ; hut

(he sound of the trumpet continued. I lift

ed myself in my couch and, gracious fathers! it was a mosquito! a little vile rascally

mosquito was flourishing in all the glory of long legs and sharp sting, around the very pinnacle of mine unhappy nose! Now, was ever such a misfortune? To be

dragged down from the fairy realms of imagination from blushing cheek and blushing roses from fame and victory and love to be torn away from those pleasures by the humming of a mosquito! at whose approach the enchanted spell was broken, and every vestige of my happy vision melted away it was too bad it was mLerabie. I lay upon my couch in a state of most pitiable melancholy, mourning over the sad ccrtainty that I was only mv pcor humble self: that I bad not been the wonder of the world : that I had not even sun a battle. I had not rescued lovely innocence from ruin; and instead of cleaving the brutal ruffian from his steed, I had been, in all human probability, flourishing away at my poor unoffending bed-post, or beating, mayhap, the meek and unresisting form of mine own pillow. Pity me, indulgent reader; but do not laugh when I assure you, upon mine honor. I was exceedingly indignant; and what increased my passion to a most alarming degree, was the fact that the little rascal kept humming about my face now sailing around mine car then cutting a few flourishes about mv nose and sometimes, with the 7 most perfect sang Jt'oid, alighting on my ery cheek. I struck my face with all my might, in hopes of crushing the intruder to death, but he escaped from the blows, and all their fury fell upon myself, i began to be outrageous, siid had already fretted myself into a copious perspiration, when to my inexpressible delight, the fury of the be-

seiger abated I heard his hum dving away in the distance feebly, and more feeble, it just reached mine car and I could distinguish it no more.

I flung myself upon my pillow, and after

a few moments repose, a gentle slumber began again to steal over my senses mine eyes closed: the miseries of mankind were again passing rapidly from my recollection; my spirit began again to float through the creation of fancy, and mingle with the visionary wonders of the dreaming world. 1 was just forgetting myself and all my sorrows, when "tcrrilile dicing' the approaching music of nvy long-legged friend was audible away oiF in the farthest corner of the

and, to my utter consternation

aid, and determined to sleep in spite of them. Yes, thought I, without opening mine eyes, fori was very sleepy with all my vexation, I will not let so small a trouble cause a single sorrowful"1 I was interrupted in my soliloquy by a sharp sting on my forehead, upon which my philosophy and equanimity vanished, and I was compelled to act upon the defensive. I tried to catch some of thern as they flew by me. I whirled around the clothes, in hopes of burying them in its folds.

Alas! alas! I had no sooner composed my

sition that I had driven them awav, than the

same everlasting hum came whizzing about mine ears, and sailing in the most provoking composure around every feature of my face. At length I sprang out of bed in despair opened the windows and doors of my room, and paced the floor in angry sleeplessness. A gentle breeze came murmuring into the chamber, and bore away my tormentors. I looked out upon the silent world. The beautiful streaks of morning were just stretching along the eastern sky. I felt a little soothed by the beauty of the scene; my irritation gradually subsided I flung myself a-

gain on my couch, and the bright beams of

the morning sun awoke me from a refreshing slumber. When I arose, I happened to cast my eves upon the white washed ceiling, and there I beheld a mosquito reposing his delicate frame, after the fatigues of the night. I mounted a table and two chairs softly and carefully raised my extended palm, and gave a most terrible slap. There was blood on the place when I got down, and happening to look in the glass, 1 found my teeth set together, in a most revengeful manner.

SKETCHES QF IXDL1. As considerable ignorance prevails nmongst our citizens, on the subject of the character and extent of the British possessions in India, the following authentic particular?, relative to the three Presidencies, we haVc culled and condensed from a work recently published, and in the hands of few, if anv of our readers.

Calcutta, or Bengal, contains an area of

two hundred thousand square miles, oneeighth of which is supposed to be lakes and rivers, and about one-third waste and irreclaimable lands. In this presidency are included the Soubahs of Bengal and Bahar, part of Orissa, Allahabad and Berar, the Marung, Cooch Bahar, and all the districts in Oude, obtained since 1801. The population is supposed to be about forty millions. The gross produce of the land annually is estimated at forty-three millions sterling, about a seventh part of which comes into the treasury of the East India Company. The whole revenue is stated at twelve 'millions sterling, and the charges of the government are estimated at seven millions. In 1809,

the Company's Bengal debt was upwards of

twenty millions sterling, and it has not been much diminished. The external and internal trade of the presidency of Calcutta averages about fourteen millions sterling annually, a great part of which is carried on by private adventurers, since the opening of the ports of Calcutta, Madras, and Bombay, to a free trade. The East India Company, howeTcr, retain a monopoly of certain articles. Above six hundred ships and vessels depart from Calcutta annually, with a hundred and fifty thousand tons of merchandisc: and the same number, on an average, sail up the river. The jurisdiction of the Supreme Court extends to a distance of 12 hundred miles, and there is no circuit branch: and the criminals are tried by juries entirely British. The city of Calcutta, the capital of British India, slands on the E. bank of the river

llooghly, ar.d about one hundred miles from the sea. The river is about a mile broad at the city. The approach is magnificent,

sicur ionson come again, did not leei nail each bank being adorned witii elegant vil-

room ;

1

could distinguish the varied hum of several of his companions. The persecuted Frenchman, hen he beheld, for the fifth time, the

everlasting phiz of his wnggi&h pursuer, and; i i a I !'"" i a

exclaimed in me miseraiue consiernaiion oi his half-broken heart, "Begar - here's Mon-

the vexation I experienced from my nocturnal visiter. In the name of comfort, thought I, when w ill my misfortunes end? Gently and playfully sported the little fellows, before ihey thought tit in their wisdom to sit down to supper. They sailed round and

to flatter mv

rourr

iiow rot, ring, so as

mind with tiie vain hope that they were leaving me forever; and then coming boldly within an inch of my nose. Unhappy man, thought I, upon what trifles does your peace depend. I called my stoicism to my

las and gardens. The city extends about s:s miles, and its numerous spires of churches, temples, and minarets, its strong fortress, and its variety of public buildings, give it a very imposing appearance. The suburb Chouringee is a line of Grecian palaces. The number of houses is estimated at one hundred thousand, and of inhabitants at six hundred thousand. The part of the city inhabited by Europeans contains about eight thousand houses, and these are the only ones which arc well builf. The European

society is numerous, living luxuriously, and presenting a splendid appearance. Visits are generally made in palanquins, but covered and open carriages, of English fashion, are much used. The table presents a vast variety, and Madeira and Claret are introduced every day at dinner, in the bouses of the middling classes. Places of amusement are not numerous. There is one respectable theatre, and an assembly room not much frequented. Private parties are numerous, but public intercourse is unfashionable. There is a Mission College here for instructing native youth in the doctrine and discipline of the church of England. From the last report of the Calcutta School Society, there are about two hundred schools within the precincts of its control, and upwards of live thousand native children are studying various branches of European literature, in Calcutta and the vicinity. In the Female School Society, there are pupils of the highest caste two Brahmins, four Kayi sthus, and seven Vishnubers, who are regarded of the highest rank. Xat. Jour. From the Philadelphia Gazette, The ship Wm. Penn, Capt. Dixey,ofthis port, when on her voyage from Charleston to Liverpool, at 2 P. M. on the 10th of August, in hit, N. 10 30, long. CO, 25, discovered two wrecks, one to windward and the other to leeward. Hatkled up to the weather one, at 3 P. M. and took from her keel a, seaman, named George , who informed Capt. D. that it was the schooner Sharon, Captain Jones, from Philadelphia, bound to Bahia, South America, cut 1C days. She iiad capsized in a gale, after both masts had been cut awav, and after a cable had been payed out to keep her head to the wind. The crew had just gone below tc get something to eat. at the time she turned over where they remained over night, with the water up to their shoulders, Then George and another man drove through the fore cuttie, by which means they gained the keel of the schooner. On this he remained seven days, when he was taken off by Captain Dixey, in an exhausted condition, having had nothing to eat, and nothing to drink, except when it rained, from the time when the schooner capsized. Capt. Dixey then bore up for the other wreck at o P. M. in rounding her stern, discovered her to be the brig Traveller, of Boston. Her foremast and bowsprit were standing, but were stripped. There was a man on her quarter deck, lie proved to be Joseph Wright, the companion of George . After having been two days on the keel of the schooner he had swam to the brig, and finding provisions, bad gained some strength. He was about five hours in gaining the brig. When th two wrecks were fallen in with by Captain Dixey, they were about ten miles apart. Wright stated that the cargo of the brig, as far as he had examined it, consisted of Flour, Beans, and Bread, in good order, though the main hatch was open, and some part of the cargo was on deck. As the hold was not full, he supposed some part of the lading had been taken out. Her cabin was very much cut up. Wright stated further, that, when he left the schooner, there were two men alive below. This induced Capt. Dixey to commence beating back, but the wind being ahead, he did not regain the schooner till 8 P. M. when judging from the appearance of the weather, that it would be impossible to keep in sight of her all night, he despatched the chief oflicer, the carpenter and three men, with a light and axes to cut through the bottom of the wreck. So dark was the night that it was deemed necessary to furnish the chief oflicer and his associates with provisions and a compass for their support and guide in case the two vessels should part befere morning. They accomplished the task assigned them, and returned to the William Penn at 9 P. M. As they heard no voices, and as the water frequently rolled over their heads when in the hold, the men below could not have lived so long as Wright supposed. George; , the seaman found on the keel of the schooner, lived only 5 hours after he was taken on board the William Penn. Joseph Wright was taken to the hospital . at Liverpool. He was rapidly recovering his health, but was not able to return with Captain Dixey.