Wabash Express, Volume 11, Number 38, Terre Haute, Vigo County, 1 September 1852 — Page 1

DAVID S. DAWALDSOff, Proprietor

.«

WHOLE NO. 558.

Prom the Signal.

GEJTEBAX PIERCE'8 'NEGATIVE STRENGTH.' We have been somewhat amused by the parade making in the-Locofoco journals, in regard to what they call very humorously the "negative strength"of their Presidential candidate. This seems to us very much as if we should praise a woman for her "negative beauty"—or a tradesman for his "negative honesty."— And yet there is a curious felicity in this phrase as applied to General PIERCE. His whole career, civil and political, is made up of negatives of the most extraordinary character and its strength, therefore, if it is not negative, is nothing.

Mr. PIERCR is a very clever gentleman, but what he has done in this world to occupy eight mortal columns of the newspapers, with broad columns and small type, his best friends will be the most puzzled to answer. We have read the whole eight columns, as they appeared originally in the Boston Post, and have been copied into the Washington Union. We have read them with amazement. His worst enemies could not have wished for a more opportune or fatal publication.

Three columns of the eight are devoted to the connexion of General PIERC* with the Mexican war. This is simply ludicrous. We had hoped for the sake of an amiable man that his friends would not seek to make a hero or a soldier of him. General PIERCE knows as well as any one how little he deserves such a reputation. From the first moment he landed in Mexico, General PIERCE relied entirely on the advice and directions of the young officers of the regular army, who were in his staff, or within his reach. He never hesitated to avow his entire ignorance of military affairs, and his absolute unfitness for his new employment, and in this he showed much more good sense than his friends do in claiming a militnr}' character for him. We have no doubt that he is a brave man. but he possesses no military aptitude and lie resigned his commission the first moment he could do it with propriety, avowing that he had mistaken his vocation. It may well be said that he would have distinguished himself by his gallantry, if he had been favored with an occasion but a succession of accidents and misfortunes withdrew him from the field "on seVehil critical moments, just as the time arrived for winning laurels.

But the difficulty in General Pi URGE'S case is more deeply seated than this. It is not merely that his military character is one of exclusively "negative strength." but his civil career is equally remarkable in this regard. He was some years in the New Hampshire legislature, and it is not pretended that he accomplished anything worthy of mention in that interesting assembly.

As a member of the House of Representatives of the United States in June. 1836. he voted again.il the bill, "making additional appropriations for the Delaware breakwater, and for certain harbors, and removing obstructions in anil at the mouths of certain rivers, and for other purposes, for the year 1836." It cannot be claimed that ho rendered any particular service by this vole, fo»- the bill was passed, and a fcw days afterwards received the signature of General JACKSON.

At the sanlo session Mr. PT Kites voted offaivrH the bill "making appropriations for the improvemenlof certain harbors therein mentioned." This-was a "negative." but not. a very effective one for this bill, in spite of Mr. PIERCE'S negation, passed both Houses of Congress, and was signed by General ACKSON.

At the same session he voted against "the bill to continue the Cumberland road in the Slates of Ohio. Indiana, and Illinois" This vote, too. was of as little consequence ns any thlttg that ever happened to Mr. TOOTS. The bill received a majority of votes in both branches of the legislature, and received the signature of General JACKSON.

These a IT the prominent points df his career in the House. As far as the country is concerned, it was certainly of no "consequence." Wo do not think that these votes call very loudly on the American people to make him President.

We next find him in the Senate: In the session of lB3?-'38, he voted against a Harbor and River bill that was voted lor by Mr. WRtcitT and Mr. BUCHANAN. But in this case, also, his vote was of no sort of "consequence." At the same session he voted, in minority six, against a bill for the benefit of the Alabama, Florida, and Georgia Railroad Company which was a measure of such a character that even Mr. CALHOCM and Mr. GRUNDY voted for it in such minority, of course, his vote was of as little consequence as usual.

At the same session a bill was before the Senate for the "benefit of the Mount Carmel and New Albany Railroad Company, in the State of Indiana," providing tor a grant of alternate sections along the road, the company contracting to carry the mail far twenty years without charge to the Government which would pay the Government at the rate of one dollar and six cents for each acre granted. Mr. CLAY nnd Mr. WBUSTER voted for this bill. Mr.

sons. Here it

was. too, that he took part it.»irs after-

against the bill for the relief of th«s ht irs ROBERT FRUROS: a bill that was

V» '!.yr.

pf-tth'.*-

nority of four Senators ugainst the Fortification bill.

Nor should we omit to mention, that during his Congressional career he made a speech against the West Point Academy, though it is true that after the Mexican War he fetracted his opinions, and tes-

tified to the great importance of that in- battle of Comtreras, August 19, 1847. W W I |1 A A A It stitution in enabling lis to achieve our Mexican victories.

Subsequently to all this he resigned his seat in the Senate. We do not seek to deprive him of all the "negative strength" he can derive from this circutnstancfe.

Still subsequently, he declined tb sefve his country again in the capacity of Senator, on the invitation of Governor STEELE. ."

Still subsequently, he added to his "negative strength" by declining to serve his country in the capacity of Attorney General, on his appointment to that office by President POLK.

In thus reviewing the career of General PlERCEj we do him no ihteiitiOnal injustice. We are merely developing and illustrating the idea of his "negative strength"—the philosophy of which is that the man who has done the least for his country is the most eminently entitled to her honors and rewards. We are not of this opinion.— We think that a little affirmative strength will be useful, if not absolutely necessary, in commending a general cr a statesman to the confidence and consideration Of his country. Therefore, it Is, that in anOthet* paragraph we have given a brief record Of the affirmative claims of Genehil SCOTT To our mind it is a record df more interest than can be made up of the most emphatic negations and as it carries its own story with it, we have not thought it worth while to embarrass the plain statement with any commentary. The best commentary upon it is written on the hearts of the American pcdple—and will be published some time the next fall.

\Vinfield Scott's Affirmative Strength. Captain of Light Artillery, May, 1808. Lieutenant Colonel of X-'d Artillery,. Izard's regiment, July 1^12.

Volunteers in the battle of Queenstown, commands on the heights, and is captured October 13, 1812.

Interferes in behalf of the captured Irishmen, October 1812. Assists in getting the Act of Retaliation passed, January 1813.

Adjutant General of the army under Gen. Dearborn, at Niagara. May 1813. Commands the advance guard in the capture of Fort George, May 27, 1813.

Colonel of a double regiment, July, 1813. Commands the advance guard in the descent of the St. Lawrence, November, 1813.

Is made Brigadier General, March 9. 1814. Drills tht- trdops in thfc camp of Buffalo, April, May, June, 1814.

Commands the advance brigade, fighting the Battle of Chippexea, July 5, 1814. Commands the advance brigade in the Battle of Niagara (Lundy's Lane), July 25. 1814.

Is badly wounded, July 25, 1814. Is brevetted Major General. July 25, 1814.

Receives the honorary degree of Master of Arts, at Princeton, September. 1814. Declines the appointment of Secretary at War. February. 1815.

Travels in Europe, March. 1815-'16. Is married. March, 1817. Writes the Military Institutes. 1821. Again travels in Europe. 1827-'28. Embarks on the Lakes, commanding troops for Black Hawk war. July 8, 1832.

Nurses the sick, August, 1832. Is commissioned to treat with Indians, September, 1832.

Concludes treaties, September, 1832. Commands in Charleston, November, 1832.

Commands in Florida, February, May, 1836. Speech before a Court of Inquiry, October. 1836.

Favorable opinion of the Court. Octo-

PIKRCK, true to his anti-improvement in-! terests, voted with the minority against it.jber, 1S3C. Whilst in the Senate, he voted and made Commands on tho Canada frontier, Dea speech against the bill for the relief of comber 1837. the widow of the lamented General H*a-| Harangues the people, January, 1838. RISON. But here, too. the vote of Mr.' Maintains peace, January. 1838 PIKRCK was entirely inconsequential. Thej Removes the Cherokees, May 18S8. bill became a law and the widow received Addresses the Indians. May. 183^. the poor pittance which Mr. PIKRCK would Commands in the Disputed Territory, |_ 'p1"

have withheld, and which TO but a slight March 1839. Catholic?" Suppose he is, what then 1 token of a nation's gratitude for the Corresponds with Gov. Harvey, March, He won the honors of two wars sn one services of one of her most illustrious'

wards passed by a Democratic Congress, Stale Convention of Pennsylvania. 1S42. devotion to his own country, and that and was Approved without hesitation byj Ordered to Mexico, November 23, ought to satisfy every American citircn. President POLK. I 1846. aside from al! frivolous questions about

Here it was. too, that he voted in a rai-j Lands Vera Crus, March 10,1847. !ufaith and practice," in a man's religion.

jgur«i£f

Captures San Juan d' Ulloa, March 27, 1847. Wins tke Bailie of Cerro Gordo, April 18, 1847.

Enters the city of Puebla, May 15. 1847. Commands the army of Mexico in the

In the battle of Churubusco, August 20. 1847. In the battle of Molina dd Rey, Sept. 8. 1847. .^r.i

In the storm of Chapvltepec, Sept. 13, 1847. Captures the City of Mexico, September 14. 1847.

Levies contributions for the comfort of the army, September 18, 1847. Devises a system of revenue., November, 1841 /"V'VT.? V.

Appears before a Cdurt of Inquiry, April, 1848. Returns home, May, 1848

Afterwards, as a member of the New York with military and civic honors, May, Hampshire convention for the amendment of the State constitution, he took an-active part in favor of abolishing the religious test which had so long disgraced his State. Singularly enough, his friends claim great distinction for him because he was in favor of religious toleration. As if every one were not in favor of religious toleration in these days, except a few bigots in a benighted State like New Hampshire. We should as soon think of claiming merit for a man because he was not nn habitual violator of the decalogue. But here, again, the generally inconsequential character of Mr. PIERCE'S votes and speeches is singularly illustrated. The constitution by which religious tests were abolished, was not adopted by the People. It is indeed odd to see how unifdrhnl.y unavailing all Mr. PIERCE'S efforts liaVe been itt the way of legislative, military, and constitutional improvement. We doubt if there is a public man of any note in the country, who has spoken, voted, and fought, t'O so little practical purpose.

Is received by the Corporation of New

1848. Nominated by the National Whig Convention for the Presidency, June 21, 1852.

Scott's Speech on the Log.

In the war of 1812, during the memorable engagement of Queenstown Heights, after Col. Van Rensselaer, and other officers had been wounded, and the command of all the American forces was yielded to Lieut. Col. Scott, just at a crisis when the result of the battle depended on our receiving reinforcements, a panic seized the militia on the American shore and they refused to cross. This caused a severe and mournful disaster to the brave men under Col. Scott. The British force, regular, militia, and Indians, numbered over 1.300, while the Americans were reduced to less than 300.

Scott, however, took his position with calmness and decision, resolved to abide the shock and think of surrender only when battle was impossible. He mounted a log in front df his reduced band of patriots, and thus addressed them: "The themy's balls begin to thin our ranks. His numbers are overwhelming. In a moment, the shock must come and there is no retreat. We are in the beginning of a National war. Hull's surrender is to be redeemed. Let us then die, arms in hands. Our country demands the sacrifice. The example will not be lost. The blood of the slain will make heroes of the living. Those who follow will avenge our fall, and their country's wrongs. WHO dare to stand 1" "ALL!" was the answering cry. and a heroic stand that gallant little band did make. Although finally beaten down by numbers, and forced to surrender, it was done with the honors of war and the battle of Queenstown Heights, with all its misfortunes displayed a gallantry of bearing in the hour of danger, and a spirit of achievement, which impacted ne\v vigor to the American arms, and restored the self-respect of the Amqjicans. "WHO DARE TO STAND" by the gallant

General now? "ALL!" will be the answering cry, on the ides of November, and the issue of that BATTLE will be a glorious victory for the great Whig cause.

"Is he a CatholioV

We with pleasure quote the following

extracts from an editorial in the Baltimore Sun of Wednesday: "Is HE A CATHOLIC?"—Avery fair question for any man to put—under some circumstances. For instance, if one were about to vote a man into the "priesthood," he would like to be informed on that point. If he were about to choose a candidate for the "scarlet hat." he would be likely to ask such a question. And whenever the Pope is elected by universal suffrage, it is to be presumed that all interested in the selection of an "available nominee" will prudently inquire, "Is he a Catholic?" But the idea of such a question being put with respect to General Scott is on a par with a general inquiry in the conclave of cardinals whether a candidate for the Pontificate is a good soldier.

Gen. Scott has been one of the most successful soldiers of his age. He conducted some of the most critical of the issues of war with Great Britain, and achieved, by his skill, intrepidity, experience, and cool observation, a series of victories, tfhich not only humbled the power of England upon this continent, but added new and unfading lustre to the rising glory of our military fame. In the war with Mexico, the same skill, discretion and inflexibility of purpose, unimpaired by a long season of "inglorious ease." were again put in requisition, and with a characteristic result. Step by step, halting at no obstacle, and never making a false move, inexorable as time itself, he made one triumphant march—a succession of victories from Vera Crua to the "halls of the Monteaumasand thus closed with the most •brilliant success a war which had been opened under kindred auspices by the gallant Taylor. The two campaigns were worthy of each other, and the respective leaders of each worthy alike of that renown which the republic has cheerfully accorded them. The dis-

paragement of antagonism in a political campaign can nereraim the lnslre of their achievements.

l®e

1039 against a Protestant, and in the other aRecoives votes in the Whig Convention gains* a Catkohe country. for the Presidency, December. 1839. Protestant or Catholic, be he what he

Supports General Harrison. 1840. may, with such credentials as these, there Nominated for the Presidency by the is no room left to question his thorough

question "Is Gen. Scolt a

.. TEMM AUTErTOIANAT SEPTEMBER ,.1, 1852.

••SOUP."

.f 'f Their cannon out-roar'd Niagara And, wreathed with her rising spray. Rose the war-smoke of Chippewa's battle,

And floated in light away And the Cataract's rainbow shining Gleamed bright in the setting sun, When it was our lot to stand for SCOTT,

By the side of the heated gun.

He bore the brunt of the foes in front, More brave than the foes behind him. And the foes in front and the foes in rear

Might ever know where to find him The fight was tough, and the way was rough, And the smoke made his old eyes dim, But he rode frith a iighttrue bridle-hand,

And his horse never fell with him.

His country's truest soldier, The old soldiers'firmest friend, He fought liis way from the first set-bill

Clean through to the bitter end From the sea-beach lines at Vera Cruz To Mexico's towers and dome, And when the long campaign was ended—

They arrested and sent him home!!

From an English Paper.

THE LOCOMOTIVE.

Through the mould and through the clay, Through the corn and through the hay, By the margin of the lake, O'er the river, and through the brake, O'er the bleak and dreary moor, On we hie with screech and roar

Splashing! flashing 1 Over ridges, Gullies, bridges," By the bubbling rill,

And mill—

Highways, By-ways, Holiow, hillJumping, pumping, Rocking, roaring,

Like forty thousand giants snoring O'er the aqueduct and bog, On we fly with ceaseless jog. Every iustant something now, Every moment lost to view,

Now a tavern—now a steeple— Now a crowd of gaping people— Now a hollow—now a ridge—

Now a crossway—noW a bridge-1

Grumble, stumble, Rumble, tumble, Fretting, getting in a stfcw Church and steeple, gaping people. Quick as thought, are lost to view Every thing that eye can stirrey Turns hurly burly, topsy-t.urvy, Glimpse of lonely hut and mansion. Glimpse of ocean's wide expansion. Glimpse of foundery and of forge, Glimpse of plain and mountain gorge,

Dash along Slash along I Crash along!

Flash along! On, on with a jump, And a bump,

And a roll—

Hies the fire-fiend to its destined goal!

Mr. Veagher's Speech at Castle Garden, N. T. Mr. Meagher came forward and was received with the most enthusiastic cheers. When silence was obtained, he spoke in substance as follows "Gentleirien, I trust thai you will no't'dedis

f(leased

with me if I say that I regret,, the pubicity which has been given to this event yet the address which you havfe been pleased to present me I receive with sentiments of respect and gratitude, this parade assuring me of your friendship, and also conferring your sanction upon my past career. It is impressive of those high hopes—those manly sentiments that lift the spirit up and impart a golden color-to. the current of our thoughts. lean, therefore* speak with a free heart, and in languge that, may not give a handle for criticism. Gentlemen, if there had not been a word spoken, the scene before me would inspire me with the happiest emotions. Those arms point to the loftier regions of history. They penetrate and disperse the cloud that overhangs the present hour, and reveal to light many a fragmeut froia the monument of ^lory. Desolate as the home of our fathers is, ityet reminds me of the long lines of soldiers, scholars and statesmen who formed bright circles in her history. Of our lineage we have no reason to be asharred— (Cheers)—and there is not a nation in the world who would not willingly decree her a statue in her Pantheon. "France cannot -forget the contributions made to her glory by the regiment of O'Rourke but not France alone will be able to vindicate the courage of our fathers, but also Spain received support from the arm of Tyrrel. The Russian forces were organized by a De Lary. Gentlemen, it is not becoming in me to allude to the revolution from which this great Republic sprung. To the gratitude of this country let us confidently commit the memory of those npon whose graves the firm foundation of her freedom has been laid. Such being the case, we have just reason to be proud of our lineage, and America has just reason to trust us. With her hand on her own and the history of others, she may thoroughly confide in our integrity, in our fealty and our devotion. I wijl sot speak of the hope which Ireland may derive from your organisation here, and the influence that yon may exert upon her in happier times. This is a subject upon which no one should wish to touch inconsiderately: but this I may safely say, that whether Irishmen cast their fortunes here permanently, or answering some summons to return to their native land, that they will be improved by their sojourn here, ana their character will be strengthened. I do not without precedent wish to suggest any movement which may be dangerous to the country which jou have sworn and IIWHI to defend. The example of Kosciusko should animate vmi. Leaving his native land in the days of his radiant youth, he fought for Amer-

a» |i

Good soldiers stood there in scarlet, Brave men fell in buff and blue And thirty long years rolled over.

But, when there was tcork to do, We bethought us of Chippewa's battle, And Queenstown and Lundy's Lane, And straightway they ordered Old Hasty. .To go to the Wars again.

His soldiers faced death in each battle, Though some were too sick to go. He was ill enough when,he got home again.

But never in Mexico: For fighting was physic and food for him, Meat, drink, boarding, washing and all. And he swallowed his soup right hastily

While he listened to the bugle call.

ica and liberty, and having done valiantly in that cause, he returned again to the home of his fathers, and endeavored to establish the same there. He broke the ranks of Frederick, and before hiui the Cossacks quivered.

Gentlemen, the same story may yet be told of one. who, having left the shores of Ireland, devoted his manhood to service of his country, and on his return to his native land he will not find a grave like Kosciusko beueath the ruins of his native land. Providence in its own good time will indicate the way. With faith and piety we should wait that time, aud with pure uearts and brave spirits cultiv? those arts'which may enable us to meet it. This is the noblest o&jpct we can have now ou earth. There is also another object which should up our feelings, stimulate our energies, and quicken the fires of ambition in the breasts of all those who come from Ireland. In this land the arts of every stranger are centered. Civilisation is the bulwark of freedom. [Cheers.] By the cultivation of those arts they will fit themselves for the state to which they aspire to, and by a generous sustainmentof the laws, and a warm fidelity to the charter of their liberties will the name of Irishmen alone be rendered respectable. The military organisation which I here behold is a conspicuous illustration of this. It is a school of propriety, honor, generosity, fidelity and courage. The spealcer here paid a beautiful tribute to the memory of HENRT CLAY, and then went on to say, here the poorest trader, the poorest mechanic, worn out with the drudgery of the day, feels that he is, as well as the wealthiest, a component—a vital part of the State, aud that by his vote he equally affects the direction of the government. Mr. Meagher's peroration was exceedingly beautiful, and was listened t* with great attention, and having assured them that in retiring from that scene he could not express his gratitude and feelings in language adequate to the occasion, he concluded by quoting a passage from Washington's Farewell Address.

Orand Balloon Ascensioii.

M. Petin, who made a successful balloon ascension from Bridgeport, Conn., recently, lias published an account of it. His balloon was 70 feet in diameter, and the boat attached was 20.feet long. In it were Mons. Gustava Reguard, of France, and Mr. Wood, of Bridgeport. Sixty-four men held the ropes until the signal was given to "let go." He says: "With the rapidity of an arrow we were, in a few minutes, ton heighth of 10,000 feet. We yet heard tho huzzas which were sent to us from our friends below, and felt the vibrations in the ropes of our balloon. We now saw the cities and villages, woods and rivers, as an unsurpassed landscape, fii beautiful frame of green, we saw the public building and churches of the city of Bridgeport, whose domes and spires, gilded by the sun, shone like gold and pearls beneath us. .We s?lw the city of New Haven, with its pleasant, greens, and on the oilier side, the villages of Fairfield, Westport, Southport, Norwalk, Stamford, New Rochelle, and a thousand other scenes of domestic tranquility and happiness so highly favored by the Creator of this world.-

Far beneath us, shining like molten silver, lay Long Island Sound, dotted with vessels, which appeared like specks upon its bosom, while Long Island appeared in the distance, aud far beyond, expanse of ocean. We observed the direction of our currents—it was the fifth time we changed them—and we found a constant current, 15,000 feet from the earth, from east to west, which would take us over the American continent, a current known already to extend over 13,000 inilfes. Below and 4,000 feet from the earth, is a current in tlie opposite direction, which would take us tcr Europe in less than four days, if it were the will of the Creator. At the heighth we now were, (13,000 feet) the balloon appeared to ns'xike a ruby, framed by azure. It threw its large shadow on the clouds, and gave us an image of an ferial Venice. I threw out more ballast, and we ascended nearly as far as it is possible for human beings to exist we had reached an altitude of 22,000 feet. The earth appeared a chaos—thermometer 9 degs. below zero. The cold was intense a heaVy hitilstorrr), held in the air by an electrical power, enveloped us in a thrilling and awful manner. Respiration was almost impossible, and we could not hear each other speak. One of oor companions, being benumbed, fell into a profound sleep.— We felt so weak that my other companion and myself were hardly able to open the valve.—• At last we succeeded in opening it, and we descended rapidly to-an altitude of 13,000.— The imagination of one exalted to such extreme heighth, grows vivid and warm as the body grows dull and chilled. For us no reality, no limits were existing. The dreams of Bernardine and St. Perrie were realized universal peace seemed to be on earth, and the whole globe were united states. But a strong condensation of the gas brought us back to the reality of terrestrial objects, and we descended to the ground.

I leave you. free fields of universal space but when 1 touched the earth it is but to take new powers to conquer, and overcome you entirely.

We landed £tt River nead, L. I., fifty miles from Bridgeport, and ninety from Brooklyn, where we found the kindest assistance from the inhabitants."

Plunging.

while

the

ilonS

85 Pier 4,could

111

must hnve been

the

black

robe for

W-iL

KS.

'Z.frX

The Washington Union publishes the jypbjoined paragraph in an article glorifiIftgihe military qualities of Gen. Pierce. "The following lines are from the pen of J. H. Warland. former editor of the Eagle, and an officer in the army at. Mexico.' The piece is entitled 'The Spirit of |0f water in the hole. New England, and contains a notice of stan'.ly condensed, and as instantly he most of the officers in the army. Of Gen-j drops with the other hand a plug of moleral Pierce he speaks as follows: ten

they must take the consequences. Itisno

Mexico.—Richmond Rep\

"Breav Xcw Kngiend's Hon«p)rit! Rounds of beef, of iVj pounds weight, can No not

Pi free can piuiw hi* *tred i, .t Amid

c«nuon Mtxing ne*r it, 'j be preserved by tit is method, which the w»ve hs* bright nwonJ »nd tmwerd load." old process did not alloiv of. The testing The courage of Pierce we do not doubt,

r.Tu

but the poetry wbieh commemorates detestable. And, we may add, if iNew }, England's "lion spirit" was only to last so|

u0'" ,ne

eterd.ngh brittle nnd

brief. The great difficulty with Pierce !bannister, as each cover is a perfect ana-

1 was that he could not "plunge hisseed''|

rojj

in the vicinity of cannon without being nicely the pressure upon it of the external! _u_

•plunged" himself over the head of his If concave, they are pa6«ed as good

SK^"-"

PBKSEEVED MEATS.

We are indebted to the kindness of a friend who has copied for us, from Fraser's Magazine, the following remarks on the

O O preservation of various substances. They appear to us pecqllarly interesting

In 1799, at a place called Jactush. in Liberia, an enormous elephant was discovered embedded in a translucent block of ice, upwards vf two hundred feet thick. The animal was perfect in its entire fabric, as on the day when it was submerged, and the wolves and foxes preyed upon his flesh for weeks. Upon examination of its bones, the great Cuvier pronounced it to have belonged to an animal of the antedeluvlal world. We might fairly presume this to be the oldest specimen of preserved meat on record, and nature was therefore clearly the first discoverer of the process, although she took out no patent, nor made any secret of her method. The exclusion of the external aii* in this natural process, combined with the eQbct of a low degree of temperature which prevented fermentation taking place in the tissues themselves, man has long imitated. In the markets of St. Petersburg vast, quantities of frozen meats are to be found the greater part of the year, and our own countrymen have taken advantage of the method to preserve Scotch and Irish salmon for the London markets.

The more scientific and enduring mode of excluding the air from the article to be preserved has long been known and extensively carried out. Good housewives of the old school would have stared, perhaps, if they could have been told, whilst boiling and corkihg dbwn hot their bottled gooseberries, that they Were practising an an art, which, carried out a little more effectually, would prove one of the most valuable discoveries of modern times. But we do not exaggerate. The difference between the bottled gooseberries and the meals preserved in vacuo, is only a question of degree, nnd the art of preserving a few vegetables from year to year, and of storing up whole herds of oxen, and keeping them if needs be till doomsday, depends entirely upon the power of pumping out more or less atmospheric air from the vessels containing lliem. The first successful attempt at preserving meat by this latter process was made by M. Appart, in France, in the year 1811, and for his discovery the Emperor rewarded him with a gift of 12,000 francs. His method was brought soon after into England, and remained the only one in use until the year l^39, when M. Fastin sold to Mr. Goldner an improved process, by which a cbinplete vacuum is formed in the cannisters, thereby insuring the preservation of their contents so long as the vacuum is maintained. This process, which is patented, is carried on by the firm of Ritchie & McCall, in Houndsditch, and is really well worth a passing notice.

The room we first enter is the larder.— A Lord Mayor would faint at the bare contemplation of such an embarras de richesses. What juicy rounds—what plump turkeys—what lively turtle—what tempting sucking pigs and succulent tomatoes I As we pass through the main court to the kitchen we see a dozen fellows opening oysters, destined to bo eaten perhaps by the next generation of opera-goers. Here is the room where the cannisters are made the armour of mail in which the provisions are dressed to enable them to withstand the assaults of the enemy. The kitchen itself is a spacious room', in which stands a series of vats. There is no fire visible, but look how simply those half a hundred cannisters of green peas are being dressed. There they stand,up to their necks in a brown looking-mixture, very much like chocolate this is a solution of chloride of calcium, Avhich does not boil under a temperature of 320 degrees.— Steam pipes ramify through this mixture, and warm it up to any degree that is required within its boiling point. By this arrangement a great heat is obtained without steam.

The cannisler!! containing the provisions were, previously to being placed in this bath, closed permanently down, with the exception of a small hole not much bigger than the prick of a cobbler's awl through the cover. The cook stands watching with a soldering tool, and a sponge. Steam issues in a small white jet from one of the covets this drives all the enclosed air before and al the moment when experience tells him that the viands are done tr a turn, he squeezes from the springe a drop

The steam is in-

lder, which hermetically seals it.—

om gives the warrant to the provisions

I0"', """"f

weeks

to a great heat. As the light off

metal? It

horse. But this is in no way discreditable jf convex or bulged, they are undoubted-} —-. --uto him. If peaceful barristers will forsake bad, and consigned to the manure heap.f 0

buttons and epaulettes. jn proof of the value of this discovery,

we WO

more than one would expect of them falling, from horses and others Burlington garden where wita were wont

tumbling into ditches. It is the tnisfor- to congregate, with appetites sharpened by Choose your wife by your ears rather Itnne of General Pierce, rather than his

our

stanUa

ihas improved nding, hts steed may»pheasant is delicious, sa»d I. "I am de-

SNSfesi^yjs/^'^wi*-5'•*

TERMS :—In advance $2 in six ^4 months $2,50 at the expiration $3.v

VOL. XI: NO. 28?

foaming fresh froiti the cow V* "Milked," replied our imperturbable host, 'when my little godson was born, that now struts about in breeches.' "Come now, what is the tnost juvenile dish oh the table Was demanded with a general voice. "These apples—tastb them." I could swear they hurtg oti the branch this morning." said a s'ceptic tasting a slice critically. "Well I gite you my word that a flourishing town tip Pyddihgtori way, now stands over the field ivhere they were grown." "Why I shali neit expect a fresh olive, grown by Horace, to draw on his sabine wine," chimed in a Poet—"aye. and the day may come, when one'might order up his grandfather, like a fine old bcttle of vintage of 1790." "God forbid:" shuddered the inheritor df an entailed estate. A#.

Development of Insect Life.

The National Intelligencer of yesterday contains a leiter from F. B. Ogden, Esq.* American consul at Liverpool, to a friend in Washington, in which he gives the results of some galvanic experiments, made by Mr. Andrew Crosse, of Sotnersetshfre, by winch insect life was developed by the solution of black flints and caustic soda. The letter contains a diagram of the apparatas used, and of tnc insect's produced —but we must content ourselves with a dt'tail df thb process, which is as follows:

"A tubulated retort, with its long etui plunged in a glass dish df mercury, has it platina wire passing through it, connected with a negative pole of a weak galvanib batterV. Through a neck in the retort hermetically sealed, another platina wire, immersed in the caustic solution, communicates with the positive pole. The bulb of the relort is two-thirds filled vi'ith it mdst carefully prepared caustic solution of sileX and potash. Pufe blatk flints and caustic soda, afier bfeing subjected to a white heat, are pulverized and melted into a glass, which is soluble in distilled water. In this solution no animal life can possibly exist, nor can there in the mercury. The whole was then placed upon a shelf for constant inspection. A gelatinous substance was first observed to have formed around the botlom of the positive wire. Then No. 1 made its appearance, gradually expanding into Nos. 2 and 3, when flexible filaments were observed.—• No. 4 began to show animal life, and, after one hundred and forty days' watching through all its changes, the perfect living insect crawled up the wire!—not singlv, but in sufficient numbers to dispel all doubt, if any could have existed, and prepared for another stage of life. Like our musquitdes, that emerge from the element in which they are produced, and are drowned in it if they return, any unfortunate stragglet* that missed his hold immediately perished. The Acarus Crossei is now known as a distinct species."

We remember to have read some years ago, of insects having been produced by dissolving flints in a poisonous fluid.— They difu-red from any known by natural--ists. It is contended by the author of* the Vestiges of Creation, that all life originated in elemontary combinations, and that man was the result of progression» not of distinct crcation. This idua ^gena is re it in it no likely that continued experiments will demonstrate the fact, that electricity is the animating principle Of naturfe—that man (and perhaps inferior animals,) ha* a physical and spiritual life, combihed in this life, but separated in that which is to come. The first produced by natural causes, the second an immortal principle, the direct gift of the Creator, the one serving temporal, the other eternal purposes.— There is scarcely any substance into which life cannot be diffused by the application of electricity. To that element we are indebted for all vegetable productions— and it seems to be the great vivifying and fructifying agent of the universe—the element created by Deity to infuse vitality into every thing..

TIIK SEASONS IN ICELAND.—From the 1 Gth or 13ih of June till the end of the month there is no night. The sun disappears for a short time behind the hills, but twilight and dawn arc blended together. and the last rays of evening have not faded from the sky before the morning light breaks forth with renewed brilliancy. I was in Iceland from the 15th of May till the 29th of July, and, although I never went to bed before eleven o'clock, I did not once require the light of a candle. In May, as well as towards the end of July, the twilight lasted about two hours, but it was never dark. Even at the time of my departure I could see to read till half past

T™" PTST" eleven. At first it seemed very strange to

are,br°u*! g0

'I ,jthtey -T l'»'e been sealed, nnd submitted for|t_^ .... JaJshi„e

jJef *e set down to a sumptuous re- ^an by your eyes.

fault, that he is an indifferent horseman. where the mingled odour of fish. When misfortunes come, pause not to He is now mounted on that fractious ani- jjjesh and game, invited to a more sub- jireep, but hasten to change. imaU the wild Democracy, and, unless he

^ting of their quality—-Thi*|

igjre him a more disastrous "plunge lighted to bear it, rejoined our host, he, XmmJ—mmmmmm—f. jthan any beencountered upon the fields of g&re the ghost just ten years ago."—:

Menco—RichmondRepublican. If*Nonsense but this wild duck, tumbled An exchange paper says—"those farover with a broken wing, I see by the mer*, who hesitate about their ability to All arc called ladies and gentlemen fracture, in the same year." take a newspaper, are requested to keep nowadays. A western paper speaks of "I suppose yon will say next." said a one hen more than usual. The profits a lady that was hanged last year. {doubting guest, "that this milk i$ not! will pay all costs." ll*"-

bod at broad daylights but I soon got

U3C(*

P|.unf1 'he fire falls sideways upon the glittering, cep me.^ ridJcu-

d.scloses in an ...*tant an unsound

.•*8

,anc*

barometer, marking with the greatest j! jV"" jns,eaj

moon

bri|bt

^akr-'afterGhiven^)'-

howcTe|% to g0 out for at

/Cveniiig

myself in the of the soft glim-

JLa

Knt1

4v„

mPr'n&

an^

1vea

uld add that dining the other day

r5j

|,e

mos

jt ig a slight deviation from the exact

trut

to find some with a friend not a hundred miles from The fullest of brains are

rcckonings mak

fatal temptations to the

often

for the sake of apparent good.

m0%t

liable to extravagance

new quarrels.

W reckonings makelongfriends.