Rensselaer Gazette, Volume 3, Number 31, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 November 1859 — Page 2

THE RENSSELAER GAZETTE. RENSSELAER, IND. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 1859.

invite attention to the card of W. S. Bedford. at this office immediately, on subscription, wood, corn and oats. the advertisement of the Chicago Press and 'Tribune in another column. We can safely recommend this journal as one of the best published in the West. DCta new oyster saloon has been opened in the American House. The young man who attends knows how to serve up oysters, as we know by having tried him. h-I ~ - (KS”T6-morrow is thanksgiving day, but it will not be observed in any of our churches, owing to the indisposition of the Rev. Mr. , Mock, the only minister now located here. * j The oyster season has commenced, ! and our friend, Reese E. Goddard, arrangements to be supplied during the winiter with the best Baltimore brand. Mr. * Goddard furnished us with a can, which Mrs. ; Babb cooked for us, (we keeping bachJelor’s hall just now,) and we must pro--nounce the delicious bi valves, and the mantner in which * they were got up, as fit to tempt the appetite of the most abstemious. 1 H —*- f£s"Governor Wise says that the calling ing out of the military in consequence of the recent fright, will at least develop the military spirit of Virginia, and accustom her soldiers to rally with speed in cases of emergency. Very likely, but if an army of seventeen Abolitionists should appear in their Tpidst, would the Virginians content themeelves with surrounding the enemy, as they did at Harper’s Ferry, and wait for the Marines to come and take the game. rnafi who delivers an anti-slavery speech or ,writes an anti-slavery editorial on this side of the Ohio, is he who gives-coun-tenance to and prepares public opinion for excursions agdinst slavery upon the other.— Cincinnati Enquirer. !The author i>f the above atrocious ment would consign Washington, Jefferson, Clay, and other shining lights of our Republic Who wrbte (and spoke against slavery , to a felon’s doom. The sentiment is monstrous.

LADIES. TAKE NOTICE.

There wijll be a meeting of die Judies of Rensselaer at the residence of Mr. A fired Thompson, on, Thursday, November 24, at two o’clock P. .31., for the purpose of o-gan-izijng a society ’for the relief of Father Chiniqtjty'*s destitute colonV at St. Anne. Ail the ladies of the town and vicinity are cordially iayited to attend. By request.

A STARTLING DISCOVERY.

The New 'Orleans Della says that it is suggested that “there is some connection between Cortipas’ invasion of Texas and Brown’s invasion of Virginia; and that one of |he objects of the former is to produce a state of alarm and insecurity along the Texan’frontier, which would facilitate the running off' of slave into Northern Mexico.” Wfe might add to the suggestion of the eejitorjof the Della, that, perhaps, it was the intention of Old Brown aod Cortinas to invade Virginia and Tixas in concert, and form a junction of the iinvading forces in the heart of oie slaves States, emancipating the slaves in their course,! and ■‘sending the fire and in all directions. It is awful to think of. j A monumerjt should .be erected to the Brain that conceived the mighty idea of an understanding between Old Ossawotomie an 4 the Tejtin rubber. The i&fta/e JoiuyiaJ., in alluding to this subject, ssuys; suppose that the South will charge every evil that may (befall itiient for the next itwejity years to Old Brown. If the Mississippi river makes (crevasses in the levee and (destroys a sugar Crop, it will be the work of of a Black Republican conspiracy among the snow peaks at the head waters of the souri. If the cotton crop fails, it will be the effect of a Black Republican disti ibutioß of cut-fworms, brougit down in shoe-pegs and carried on to the plantations by peddlers at night.”

THE NEW YORK ELECTION.

We stated las, wjeek that the Republicans had carried New York over the combined Democratic and American parties. Unfortunately has turned out not to be ftruei; but, nievertjfieless, the Republicans ;iHM great cajuse fpr rejoicing. It will be irecojlected that the Americans made no nominations d>f tluirown, but adopted live of the Republican candidates, and four of the Democratic, bf that part of the ticket supported by Democrats and Americans, were elected (according io the latest report) by majorities of 1,174.1,004 and 376 respectively, ( aud Republican by 450. Thej ticket supported by Republicans and Americans wtjs elcjctedthy 20;000 to 25,000 majority. Jt will lie seep that the Republicans! came within j a very few hundreds of carrying the State (over all opposition, while last yegr they were in a minority of 48,000,

| and in 1856 Buchanan and Fillmore had k i majority of 44,000 over Fremont. Well i done. New York! • Should another Harper’s Ferry affair occur next year, New York,J if she gains in the same ratio she did the past year, will give 46.000 majority over all opposition for the Republican President.

STARTLING NEWS FROM TEXAS.

| The bandit chief, Cortinas, with a large ' band of followers, has been hovering on the ! outskirts of Brownsville, Texas, lor several : weeks, threatening the town with destruc- ' tion and some of the prominent American citizens with death. It appears that Cortinas had been imprisoned in the Brownsville ! jail for some crime, and after his release he threatened vengeance on the Sheriff and some of the lawyers of the town. A dispatch from New Orleans three or four days ago announced that he had put his threat in execution, laid the town in ashes,'killed one hundred American citizens, and was marching toward the Nonces with fifteen hundred men, laying waste the territory through he passed. This nows, however, is not believed, as a New Orleans merchant received I a letter from a Brownsville business house, dated at three o'clock of the same day on which the town was reported to have been destroyed, which said nothing about it.

THE "CHIVALRY" AGAIN FRIGHTENED.

The First Families of Virginia have had another tercibffi panic in their midst. We learn by telegraph that Richmond, Alexan- | dria and Charlestown, and the region round ■ about, were, last week, in a state of fright ■ that made them shako and quiver in their boots and shoes, like children when tbreati ened by visitations, from ghosts, ghouls and : hobgoblings. A rumor was spread abroad I (doubtless by some mischeivous practical jokers, who were anxious to see the puppets I dance to the tune of “Harper’s Ferry”)—to ' the effect that a formidable movement was . in progress for the rescue of old Brown from ! the Charlestown jail. The panic occasioned ‘by tli’s cruel purpose of playing upon the I coward fear of the ‘'chivalry,” must have i been perfectly awful, inasmuch as we are i informed that the military were at once i called to arms at Richmattd and Alexandria, under orders to march at a moment’s.}yarn- ! ing, to wage “bloody war” against the san- ! guinary Abolitionists aho were supposed to have invaded the Old Dominion for the purlpose of demiving the authorities of the pret cions privilege of.hanging a crazy man convicted of “murder and treason.” The Virginians are.evidently in a pitiable ; state of trepidition. They are sadly defii cient in that quality of “pluck” for which ' Gov. Wise expresses admiration of old j Brown. It is announced that the Mayor of Charlestown has issued a proclamation warni ing all “strangers who cannot give a satisfactory account of themselves” to leave the town forthwith, or submit to arrest and imprisonment. A dispatch also informs us that at Culpepper Court Hoose, “several suspected Northern persons” have recently been arrested, and that “it is the intention of the authorities to place in confinement all who cannot give a good account of themselves.” From the telegraphic d’spatches, we take it that the negroes in the neighborhood of Charlestown have been taking advan age of the 'ears of their masters, and have gone to burning houses, haystacks, &.C., in order to! augment those ridicu'dus.fea<-s> The following dispatches will show into what convulsions Virginia was thrown into. Insurrec-: tion is like the ball of the L’tt’.e Joker—“now you see it, and now you don’t.” Rii.i).uoxr>,Va., Nov. J 7, —Evening reports have been received here to-day from Charlestown stating that an attempted rescue of Brown was expected. It created great excitement. The military are under arms, readv to march at a moment’s warning. A dispatch received this evening from Col. Davis at Charlestown, to Gov. Wise, request inghim to send immediately two com- 1 panics of cavalry, and stating that five barns I and out-houses had been li: - ed to-day—it was I I supposed by sympathisers with Browrt.

Alexandria, Va>, Nov. 17.—Great excitement exists .in this city in consequence of .a rumor which is in circulation that the rescue of Brown has been, or is about to be attempted. Volunteers arc assembling at the armories. Richmond, Nov. 19.—Troops leave for Charlestown this morning in consequence of dispatches from Col. Davis to Gov. Wise. Great excitement prevails. Richmond; Nov. 19, 11 P. M.—The first regiment of volunteers, 400 strong, left at 9 ! o’clock this evening for Charlestown. Gov. | Wise is a passenger. Orders have been sent to Washington for ammunition. Gov. Wise’s dispatches from Col. Davis state that a body of armed men are approaching from the direction of Wheeling. Chari. estow'n, Nov. 19. —All is now quiet in this place, but the military forces are augment i ng. I The barns, stock-yards and implements, i amounting in value to several thousand doli lars, belonging to .Messrs. John Burns, Geo. .11. Tate and Mr. Shirely, till of whom were jurors in the recent trials, have been burnt., lion. Alexander Hunter professes to be convinced that an attempt will be made to rescue the prisoners, and a letter from Urbana, Ohio, addressed to Brown, written in cypher, which has been decyphered, tells him to keep in good spirits, that In's friends are mustering, and will drop along one at a time. Col. Davis telegraphed to-day for 500 additional men. Alexandria, Nov, 19.—The town is much

[excited in consequence of dirpaTcTtes from j Col. Davis to Gov. Wise. Wheeling, Nov. 19.—N0 armed men have crossed the river here, nor are there i any rumors of them crossing near this place. So it seems that the whole thing is another farce—perhaps intended to give a plausible excuse for lynching Brown before the day set for his execution.

[For tlie Rensselaer Gazette

LADIES, BEWARE.

“’Tis my request”-—said a gay young girl, and with her thoughtless pleading and untried witchery, she gained the mastery over true, but faltering nobleness of purpose. She knew not his weakness—knew not that the tempter had often been foiled—onlv by determined effort. Firmly did he refuse to comply, and she wished to try her power. With that face he best loved to look upon radient with joy and beaming with smiles—and eyes sparkling and dancing she looked into his own. “’Tis my request—accept from my hand the sparkling cup—quaff and make merry.” He did accept, and drained the cup. She was the victor as she prided herself that she should be. Alas! she little thought she was the vanquisher of his royalty, his self-reliance, his self-respect. How little did she considder that in that “harmless social glass” was concealed the poison that would prove his eternal destruction, the serpent that would sting her forever with remorse. She knew not that, his besetting sin was the love of wine, and that from that hour he could not escape it. The evening passed, as all evenings will, and this one gaily. The hour came for disbanding—the good-nights were said—he was gone.J Before closing her eyes in sleep, she prayed the All Father to bless him and keep him in the paths of right. Slumber wooed her to his embrace, she gently gave herself into his arms —and with no pains of conscience wandered in fair} 7 laud a creature of light He left her—but not for his home—as was his wont. He stole silently along through the dimly lighted streets. The solemn night breeze seemed to him wailing. The silent stars looked pityingly down upon him. He shrunk from the light—shrunk from the world and himself—thought how cruelly he was tempted, blamed and cursed. At length he paused, hesitatingly. He stood before a drinking saloon. An hour before he would have loathed as contaminating, the thought even, of being associated with those bloated night revellers. A r otz’ he finds himsself y : elding to the impulse to quench the fiery thirst that burns his throat. A step forward—and he is within the influence oi spirits that ever after haunt him. I.adies, beware! though you offer but the “social glass,” innocent as you may consider it —it may lead to bacchanalian revels.

An Exposure by a Democral-Who is Hurt?

Mr. A. P. Richardson, formerly Senator in our State Legislature, from St. Joseph county, now editor of the North lowa 'rimes, a Democratic paper, who is well known to many of the citizens of this State, sends the last issue of his paper to the Slate Journal, in which is found the following damaging and disgraceful ex posure: attempted subornation of the press. On Fridav Hist, Nov. 11, 1 lie clerk of the A'cy CiVy-on.the downward passage of the steamer,’handed us a letter of which we have decided to publish the substance. The publication of the letter, with an enclosure de-j signed as al! “editorial” for the columns of the North lowa Times would cause a sensation of no ordinary character. . ’ It is known to the reading’ public of the Union that Capt. Cook hue recently been convicted of murder and insurrection at. Harper’s Ferry, and that Gov. Wilml’d of Indiana, in obedience to the dictates of humanity and respect for the feelings of his wife, whose brother* Capt. Cook is, has attended the trial, provided able counsel, and' exerted every justifiable moral influence to avert the doom which probably awaits his unfortunate relative. It may not be known, however, that in the letter now before us,i addressed to the editor of this paper as an “Indianian and a Democrat:” writen by a gentleman formerly in the confidence of. a distinguished Senator from Indiana, there is a proposition to bring the political character and services of Gov. Willard, and the aid of the Democratic press of the West, to bear on Gov. Wise’s feelings or his vanity, for the commutation of Cook’s sentence to imprisonment for life. Yet such is the fact! In exposing a shemc, fraught with a violation of all right and eternal disgrace of the party with which they are associated, we' but follow a line of duty, which, in otir opinion, should characterize every conductor of a public journal. This publication is not a breach of any confidence reposed in us, because no man has a right to approach another with suggestions, which, if consummated, would burlesque justice or compromise self | respect; nor is that all. The writer of this | letter says: “I have se m the press of Ohio, Indiana and Illinois, and I am now on tn way to lowa, Mis ouri, Tennessee and Kentucky, to get them to join in also.” lie was | just returning from Minnesota, where sever-, al of the presses had engaged “to come out next week” in an editorial, similar, we sup-[ pose, to the one furnished us, a marked copy of which is to be forwarded to Gov. Wise at Richmond. A secret, if proper in itself, when committed to the hands of so many unpledged keepers, ceases to impose the obligation of silence, and hence we pay it no respect whatever; as it involves the monstrous, and till now unheard of principle of permitting an escape from liability for crime because of political services, we publish it to give it the weight, of our humble but most’ emphatic condemnation.

The editorial prepared for our paper is the I shallowest, and, so far as we can judge, the falsest bundle of flattery to Gov. Wise, and ill-tempered denunciation of “Black Republicanism,” we have read—the latter being charged mass with a blood-thirsty desire to see Cook hung, and all the rest saved, so that the influence of a Democratic Governor may appear to be disregarded and hostile feelings be promoted between the Northern and Southern Democracy! We employ no hand but our own to write leaders for this paper, but if we do so, some other per- ! son than the writer of the article referred to, would get them up. Its unwise appeal to party spirit, and the highly colored picture of Willard's battles in defense of “Southern institu'ions,” would render it ineffectual on Gov. Wise; and the party which it attempts to compromise in this great wrong, would rise as one man to curse the motive which prompts the sacrifice the holv principles of Justice on the-shrine of Political Ambition. But the subject is not a pleasant one. and we forbear to speak of ft in the terms which its criminality demands. We do not wish, nor do we believe the masses of our people desire to see any of these wretches executed, nor have we seen in any Republican paper an expression favoring the death of Cook and the release of Brown and the others. Notwithstanding their lives are all justly forfeited to the State, we have urged with what ability we possess that Virginia can afford to spare the easiest man of the insane band, Brown himself, as “a living monument of tiie fearlessness and magnanimity of the South.-and of the fanaticism of a portion ot the North.” We . sincerely t-ust that Gov. Wise,if it is in Ins power, will Jet all of these misguided men live. “The blood of the martyrs is tiie seed of the church,” and though we would by no means place either Brown of Cook on ’ho roll of martyrdom, yet a small portion of the country is already weak enough to honor them as.such, anil their deaths will but add to that sympathy which derives its strongest support Rom the instinctive tenderness and sorrow with which all mortals contemplate the helplessness of the dead.

Convict tile Or iin ill nets, or Confess Yourselves Hie Vilest of Slnnderers,

It it is true, as charged by the Administration organ, that Seward, Chase, Howe, Giddings, &c. have, by their complicity in the Harper’s Ferry rebellion, made themselves guilty of High Treason against the United States, and deserve to hung withold Broa n, why, in the name of public duty, does not the President have them arrested and tried for the crime! What is an Administrai ion good for that lets treason stalk to and fro throughout the land, in darkness and in daylight, unpunished and unrebuked. 1 We say, with the St. Louis A' «•.«, what is Mr. Buchanan for but to execute the laws, sustain the Const i tut ion, and pu nisii.a 11 iirikfactors that plot its overthrow! A'e such terrible conspirators to go un punished ! It is charged by the b ■•cling presses of the National Democracy, that “liie Smth will have no protection against, servile insurrections” if a Republican President snail ’x elected in 1860. Bui, what protection have they now, i f arch-conspire t ors and I raitors. as Seward, Chase, Hale & Co. are declared to be, are suffered to go unpunished, unproseented, unrebuked! We demand that Mr. Buchanan and the Democracy meet the issue that they have made, fairly’ and squarely I f Seward , Chase, Hale, Giddings, Gerrit Smith, and others are accessories of old Brown’s crimes, they must be arrested and tried for murder and high treason! The dignity of Government requires it. The oath of office taken by Mr. Buchanan compels it. The conservation of society calls for it. The safety of the South demands it. How can M-. Bucnanan esc ip the dilemma! He must prosecute, or his organs and Ins parly must recant. They, have told truth, or they told horrible lies in charging the “unquestionable complicity” of Seward, Chase, Hale & Co. with old Brown's insurrection. If they have told the truth, and decline to prosecute, then they become accessories after the fact, and deserve impc&chment as traitors to the Republic. If they have told lies, let them prepare to swallow their falsehoods before the face of a disgusted and indignant people, and to slink away to the kennels of unwhipt liars, caught in the net of their incautious spreading. Come.ye Democrats, ye Buchanan men. ye protectionists of “Soutlrern institutions” — co.’.ne up to the work —convict and hang Seward, Chase, Hale!&. Co., if they arc guilty, as i.ou say 'fey are, or confess yourselves slanderers-o." your.'Hvfis traitors to the laws against treason, wiich you should be compelled bv your oaths to t.xecute. Stand/ up to your duty before the country! x !'.?■'■ eyes of all are upon you.

BELL BLACKBURN.

A man named Roan has been convicted in Clay county, 111., of murder in the second, degree by causing the death of a blind b< y by neglect and starvation, and sentenced to five years’ imprisonment in the penitentiary. The facts disclosed were revolting in the extreme. The poor boy was put man outhouse and made to starve and freeze to death, covered with rags and vermin! Roan is wealthy, and paid his counsel a thousand dollars. He took a change of venue from Jasper county, where fie was indicted last spring. A portion of the jury were for the death penalty, and nearly all’ tiie people were. A motion was made for a new trial, which is under advisement.

The Hagerstown (Maryland) Torchlight says: “The Governor lias ordered the Sheriff of Washington county to appoint a sufficient numer of deputies, residing along or near the boundry line between this State and Pennsylvania, and others residing along the line of the Potomac river, who maybe empowered to act with authority of law m ca§e of any assembly of unlawful characters, or men whose character and purpose are not known, and to arrest and detain them. In pursaunce of this order the Sheriff has summoned five hundred men in various parts of the country o act as his special deputies.” OJy=Richmond, Ind., seems to be possessed by a bund of devils. The Palladium contains two columns, nearly, of robberies, thefts and outrages, committed during the past week or two.

[From the Loii'sville Journal

Revolting Barbarity

Precautions.

A Contrast.

Gov. Willard of Indiana, says the Chicago Journal, has failed to procure a verdict of acquittal for Capt. Cook, his brother-in-law, who was one of the Harper’s Ferry rioters. The Governor and his family are said to be deeply grieved at the conviction of deathsentence of the misguided young man, and the certainty of his meeting his doom at the j gallows-. We cannot but sympathise with the afflicted family. It is.la hard blow to have a brother consigned to so ignominious a death, whether just or unjust. But at the same time we cannot let this opportunity pass, sad as it is, to suggest a striking contrast, :by asking why the relatives ot Capt. Cook are more deserving of our sympathy than those" of his associates in the Harper’s Ferry raid! Is the distressed wife of old John Brown less to be commisserated in her grief than the family of Gov. Willard, merely because old Brown is crazy and his wife a poor woman, and Governor Willard and his family reside in the Gubernatorial mansion of Indiana ! And suppose Capt. Cook had been the brother-in-law of Gov. ('base of Ohio, or of Gov. Bissell, of Illinois, Republicans, instead of Gov. Willard, of Indiana, a Democrat! Would we ever hear the last of the ' charges, intimations and calumnies that tiie Democratic organs would utter against Gov. Chase or Gov. Bissell,-to prove their complicity in the Harper’s I’erry conspiracy, in order to fasten the responsibility upon the party which they represent! They would violate all dictates of sympathy and humanity — sneer at the sorrow of a sister's heart, ‘ or the brother’s grief, in their wolfish purI suit of capital. Such is the partisan rapacity of Democratic demagoguism. We are heartily glad that no Republican editor, c ither in Indiana or elsewhere, had Iso far forgotten decency or humanity as to gloat over the fact that one of the Harper's Ferry rioters is the brother-in-law ot a Dem>>erat'c Governor. It would be cruel .and inluiman. But we know the reckless-ness-of Democratic newspaper men and politicians well enough to believe that were Gov. Willard a Republican, th>'i/ would,iliowl their throats h la-'se to prove tiiat he was a party Ito the conspiracy.

Signs to be Mistaken.

! 'l’he irrepressible exodus of slaves from the borders of Missouri continues unabated. L’’ree white labor is coming in—that of neI groes going out. Every day adds proof to this, and any day a visit to our levee will convince the skeptical ol the steady and continual (low of slave property to the Smith. I Twe.nl v-live left yesterday on one steamboat. Tiu‘ pro-slavery organs in the country are howling in vain. The Huntsville Citizen deplores the loss, but it can't !><■ helped. Planters Smith wan! slaves- —,M issmir ia us don’t want them. Tiie result is euMJy loreseen, and ranr.nt be averted. \\ iiile some I are selling, .others allow their negroes to run away, as we hear of the arrival oftwentvI six .1 u jitives at Detroit, bound to Canada, jWe say “allow,” because they take no measures to prevent it and do not foolishly a teem pt to hold t hem. 1 n this connection, we learn from one of the toil gate keepers on the Manchester : road Irom tins city, that during the season ! not less than a hundred families have passed | towards the South-west; and yet only one of that number lri-1 any slaves; all the rest 'were from the North ami East. ('an anybody doubt tiie great fact that the State is I fast emancipating itself from tiie incubus of , slavery, and gradually getting ready for enrollment with the great majority of the Union!—N7. Louis Democrat.

Captain cook a Democrat.

While t’ ose having Captain Cook in charge after his arrest, were-waiting-at Hagerstown, Maryland, for ti carriage to take them to Charleston, as we learn Irom the Baltimore Clipper, Messrs. George Fieaner and Win. Motler, two Locofoco candidates on the county ticket, approached him and engaged in conversation in reference to any political question involved in the insurrection at Harper’s Ferry. The Captain declared that politics had nothing to do with the matter. The. genl lemen interrogated him further as to his own politics, when, to their great surpris the Captain told them that he had not voted for many years, but that in politics he was a Democrat. No further inquiries about politics were made by thoke candidates. What will the sham Democracy say to that? The Republicans responsible, are they! Don’tyou feel that you have been acting rather mean in attempting to make you readers believe such stull! Get into the first auger-hole you can find tind hide yourselves.— Ind. Atlas.

Singular Freak.

James Truesdell, a gentleman of some Seventy years, living in Liberty, Pennsylvania, had been for over twelve years past industriously’ engaged, when the weather and his health wouid permit, in digging over a piece of ground near his dwelling, and carrying the stones and some dirt into a pile. Here he has labored, taking one stone or a shovel full of dirt at a time, until the mound has reached the bight of thirty or forty feet, and is much larger than his house, lie said as a reason for his labors that he lost a sixpence in his garden. He soon after found several sixpences, but continued to dig until his whole garden had been carried to increase the mound. He is peaceful and industrious in this way, so his family let him work. To their offers of assistance he gives a decided negative, and digs away alone. Mr. Truesdell is a well informed man, and talks rationally' on any subject but his lost sixpence. Qts”Some New York paper having stated that Gerrit Smith was a Republican, and a leading Fremonter, Win. 11. Burleigh, in a note to the Tribune, denies both statements. He says: “Mr. Smith did not vote for Fremont. From the very or animation of the Republican party he has steadily' and consistently opposed it and its candidates. Personally, he was friendly to Fremont, but he felt that he could not., without a sacrifice of principle, vote for him, and he did not as I have Ward him repeatedly declare.” Mr. Burleigh himself it is well known, is a radical Abolitionist. *' (kJ7"Wo often hear of a widow mending her condition by’ repairing.

Examining Bottoms of Wells.

It is not generally known, we think, how easy a matter it is to examine the bottom of a well, cistern, or pond by the use of a common mirror. The Now Hampshire Journal of Agriculture says: “When the sun is shining brightly, hold a mirror so that the reflected rays of light will fall into the water. A bright spot will be seen at the bottom, so light as to show the smallest object very plainly. By tin’s mean* we have examined bottoms of wells fifty feet deep, when half full of water. The smallest straw or other small object can be perfectly seen from the surface. In the same way one can examine the bottom of ponds and rivers, if the water be somewhat clear, and not agitated by wind or rapid motion. If a well or cistern be under cover or shaded by buildings, so that the sunlight will not fall near the opening, it is only necessary to employ two mirrors, using one to reflect the light to the opening, and another to send it d >wn perpendicularly into the water. Light may be thrown fifty or a hundred yards to the precise spot desired, and then reflected downward. We have used the mirrors with success to reflect the light around a field to a shaded spot, and also to carry it from a south window through two rooms, and then into a cistern tinder the north side of the house. Haifa dozen reflections of the light may be made, though each mirror diminishes the brilliancy of the light. Let anyone not familiar with this method try it, and lie will find it not only'useful, but a pleasant experiment. It will perhaps reveal a m iss of sediment at the bottom of a well which has been little thought of, but which may have been a fruigbtl.l source of disease by its decay in the water.”

A New Coffin.

'Pho New Albany 'Zr/fnZne thtis describes an invention f<>r preserving dead bodies, recently pattented by a citizen of that place, Mr. John R. Cannon. If the invention does what is claimed for it we can surpass all tiie embalming arts of the Egvptians: “'l’he coffin is made of nlass, from one half to one inch thick, cast in two pieces of the ordinary form. In the upper edge of the body of the cofilin is a groove, in which a tongue in the lid loosely fits. When a corpse is placed in the coffin the groove is filled with melted cement; the lid is placed ou, and firmly held by three iron bands until the cement is hardened. Through a small hole in the top of the coflin, the air is then extracted by means of a pump. By these means. Mr. Cannon claim', bodies mav be preserved in their i literal state- for all ages to come; and when placed in vaults, can always be -accessible to the gaze of those who are ‘lelt behind.’ The expense of these coltlns will be no more than ordinary ‘wooik'n collins.”

Ingenious mode of Tying Horses.

The lu'bi'mlors have a most curious custom, am! a most oUbclii il on >. of p-r -vimting [ horses from s:r.syin“, which, 1 beli. ve, is cni'irely peculiar’to this Island. T”. gentlemen, for inst ince, nre riding toga ithout attendants; and wishing to a 'igiit for the purpose ot visiting some i.lfi.•<•: al a distance Irom the road, thev i ic the lic.td o! one horse 'to the tai iof another, ami t.h head o this to the tail of the former. In tliisstat c* it is utterly impossible that they can m >ve . ither backwarils or forwards, one pulling the o::e way and the other the other: au.-l, therefore, if disposed to move at all, it will be onlv in a circle, and even then, there must be an agreement to turn; their heads the same 3 - way. J'arroic's Visit to Leland.

Last Words of Broderick.

Dr. Rowell, the Surgeon who attended upon Senator Broderick after he receded the fatal bttll from the murderer Terry, says in a letter as follows.; “I will say in answer to your request, that i the late Hou. 1). C. Broderick, on the day [ of the duel, after lie was wounded, and bei fore re-action had taken place, when I was | standing over him. and telling him not to i exert himself too niitch in talking, lie holding one of my hands in both of his, did use the following language, and did address the same to me, viz: */ am killed—l am murdered.—because I was opposed to the extension, oj slavery and a corrupt Adminislrati.m.'”

Writ of Error Refused.

Richmond, Nov. 19. The petition of John Brown, for a writ of error to the judgment rendered by the Circuit Court of Jefferson county, was presented to the Supreme Court of Appeals vesterdavThc Court to-day refused to award a writ of error, being of the opinion that the jud<>~ment of the Circuit Court is plainlv rigfit. The execution will therefore take place as appointed on the 2d of December. Judges Allan; Daniels, Moreure. Leo and Robertson on the bench.

Evidence of Brow's Insanity.—The Cleveland Hera Id 'of last evening siiys: “Mr. Hoyt, one of Brown’s counsel, is now in the city for the purpose of getting-affidavits e£ the acquaintainces of Brown as to his insanity*. A large number of affidavits have been prepared at Akron, Hudson. Cleveland, &c., and they are made by men of the first respectability . who have known Brown for many years, intimately, and there is no difference of opinion among them astothe mo--nomania ot B'-own upon the subject of slavery.” o<7“Mr. Sennott, one of the counsel for the Harper’s Ferry' prisoners, and who presented some very forcible points of exception to the Jury’s findings, has been notified, with others, that his personal safe y would be best preserved by his leaving Charleston at his earliest convenience. Mr. Sennott declined leaving until be had concluded his business. Mr. Hoyt, of B »ston, who went to Charleston as old Brown’s counsel, w rites a lettersaving that he was compelled to leave for the North as soon as Brown's trial was closed, to avoid the violence of the “chivalry.” (gJy~Ori"lhe morning ol the New York election, the New 'l ork Herald, the organ of the iSouth and the Cottonocracy of the Nor,th, had the following: “Il the Black Republican revolutionary' ticket should be elected in New' York and New Jersey’, the news will tall on the ear of the South like the knell of a departed Union, and the excitement will son reach a crisis and asstime a shape which will appeal and astound the pcop.lv of the North.” Doleful indeed!