University of South Carolina Libraries
Sir John Franklin. Sir John Franklin was born at Spilsby, in Lincolnshire, England, in 1786. At an early age of fourteen he entered the royal navy as midshipman. Wo next hear of him embarking on a voyage of discovery to New Holland, on board the Investiga? tor, commanded by Captain Flinders. During this voyage he was wrecked on the east coast of that island, where ho re? mained with the crew for eight weeks, when they were relieved by a vessel from Port Jackson. Mr. Franklin next proceeded to Canton, and on returning from tlience tovEngland, he was assigned the station of flag-mid ?hipman onboard the Bellerophon. He was on this vessel during Nelson's victory of Trafalgar, and distinguished himself for - skill and bravery. In October, 1807, he was placed on board the Bedford, in which ship he remained nearly eight years, cm ployed on the Brazil, North Sea, and West Indian stations. In 1818, Lieutenant Franklin was given the command of the Trent, on a voyage of discoveiy to the Polar Sea, north of Spitzbergen, under the orders of Captain Buchan. Another expedition was sent out at the same time under Captain John Boss, to explore the coast east of North America, within the Arctic Circle. - Early in 1819, John Franklin was ap? pointed by Earl Bathrust to the command of an overland expedition from the shores of Hudson's Bay to the Arctic Ocean. The principal object of this expedition was to learn more about the geography of the northern portion of North America, which at that time was little known. He arrived in England on his return from this expedition in October, 1822. In -1823, he was married. to Eleanor Ann, daughter of Mr. Porden. an eminent art? ist. This lady early manifested talent as a poetess; and her poem entitled the " Arctic Expedition," led to her marriage with Captain Franklin. In 1825, he again set out in command -of an overland expedition through North America. His departure from England was under circumstances severely trying. His wife was lying at the point of death, yet, with heroic fortitude, she urged him to leave on the very day appointed ; en? treating him, as ho valued her peace and his own glory, not to delay a moment on her account. This was, indeed, a severe struggle between the affections and a sense to duty; but he started at the ap? pointed time,-and, his wife died a day or two after his departure. Captain F-ranklih returned from this expedition" in 1827. passing through the city of New York, on his way to England. During his jour ney to the Polar Sea, he obtained the name of Great Chief, among tached to him. Though a bold and daring adventurer, and nobly bravo when brave? ry was needed, he was noted among them for his kindness and gentleness. On the 5th of November, 1828, Captain Franklin was married to his second wife, Lady Jane Franklin. She was the second daughter of John Griffin, Esq.. of Bedford Place, London. In April 1829, Mr. Frank? lin received the honors of knighthood, in consequence of which he was called Sir John Franklin. In August, 1830, he was appointed to the command of the Rain? bow, destined for the Mediterranean sta? tion. He afterwards became governor of Van Diemen's Land. On returning to Eng? land, in 1845. from his arduous services on that island, ho received the command of another exploring expedition, to at? tempt once more a solution of the exis? tence of a Northwest Passage. This expedition was to proceed by water in the ships Erebus and Terror, which had returned but a short time previous from an Antarctic expedition, under the com? mand of Sir James C. Eoss. These vessels we refitted and supplied with every convenience which the re? peated Arctic expeditions could suggest, together with provisions sufficient to last the crew, consisting of about 138 persons, for three years. On the 19th of May, 1845, they departed from England. ?-? Man's Character.?We may judge of a man's character by what he loves? what pleases him. If a person manifests delight in low and sordid objects?the vulgar song and debasing language; in the misfortunes of his fellows, or cruelty to animals, we may at once determine the complexion of his character. On the contrary, if he loves purity, modesty, truth?if virtuous pursuits engage his heart, and draw out his affections?we are satisfied that ho is an upright man. A mind debased shrinks from association with the good and wise. -4? The Looking Glass.?Clement of Al? exander thought that a Christian woman should not look into a mirror, " because by making an imago of herself she vio? lates the commandment, which prohibits the making of the likeness of anything in heaven above, or on the earth beneath." You smile; but might you not well sigh over the probability that many Christian women in their eagerness for "outward adorning/' look oftener and longer into the mirror than into the Bible ? -*-:? Friendship.?Humility and charity are the two greatest graces in the world; and these are the greatest ingredients which constitute friendship and express it.? Bishop Taylor. j Discoveries of the Last Half Cen? tury. There has been no period since the commencement of the world fh which so many important discoveries, tending to. the benefit of mankind were made, as in the last half century. Some of the most wonderful results of human intellect have been witnessed in the last, fifty years. Some of the grandest conceptions of ge? nius have been perfected. It is remarka? ble how the mind of the world has run into scientific investigation, and what achievements it has effected in that short period. Before the year 1800, there Avas not a single steamboat in existence, and the application of steam to machinery was unknown. Fulton launched the first steamboat in 1807. Now there are three thousand steamboats traversing tin? wa? ters of America, and the time saved in travel is equal to seventy per cent. The rivers of every country in the world, are traversed by steamboats. In 1800, there was not a single railroad in the world. In the United States alone there are now 8,797 miles of railroad, costing $236,000,000 to build, and about 22.000 in England and America. The lo? comotive will travel, in as many hours; a distance which in 1800 required as many weeks to accomplish. In 1S00, it took three weeks to convey intelligence between Philadelphia and New Orleans; now it can bo accomplished in minutes, through the electric telegraph, which on? ly had its beginning in 1843. Voltaism was discovered in 1800, the electro-mag? net in 1821. Electrotyping was discover? ed only a few years ago. Hoe's printing press, capable of print? ing ten thousand copies an hour, is a very recent discovory. Gas-light was un? known in 1800; now, nearly every city and town of any pretense is lighted with it, and we have the announcement of a still greater discoveiy, by which light, heat and motive power ma}' be produced from water, with scarcely any Cost. Da guerrc communicated to the world his beautiful invention in 1839. Gun-cotton and chloroform are discoveries of but a few years old. Astronom}* has added a number of new planets to the solar sys? tem. Agricultural chemistry has enlarged the domain of knowledge in that impor? tant branch of scientific research, and mechanics have increased the fiiciliticw for production, and the means of accom? plishing an amount of labor which far transcends the ability of united effort to accomplish. What will the next half century accomplish ? We may look for still greater discoveries ; for the intellect of man is awake, exploring every mine of knowledge, and searching for useful.in? formation in every dcuartnTTrnt ul' ??.-*. .??..J industry.?Philadelph ia Ledger. * Climbino Up.?It is a very common thing to hear people excuse their want of cultivation, of education, of respectabili? ty, of refinement?in fact, of all the qual? ities that give one social value and posi? tion?by referring to the many great men who have arisen from the lowest round of the human ladder. They point to Shakspcare, Claude Lorraine. Colum? bus, Napoleon, and other historically-fa? mous individuals ? including Horace Greely?and trace them back to their ear? ly poverty and ignorance, as an excuse. They say : "If these men came from my ciasSj it must be the best one." The mat? ter lies in a nutshell. The lowest circle is an excellent one?to get away from. The [difference between William Shaks? pcare and John Smith is, that William could not remain in an ignoble position? that circumstances could not keep him i there?wlulc John cannot elevate himself above the surroundings in which he was originally placed. It is no disgrace to a man to have as? cended from the lowest and most degra? ding condition : but it is an overwhel? ming shame if he remains in it when he has such brilliant examples before him. To say that a man "has no advantages," is merely to say he has not taken advan? tage of circumstances. None of the great men in history?those whose names and memories are like shining lamps, illumi? nating the present through all the mists of the past?had " advantages." They seized their circumstances with an iron grasp, and made them into advantages by their own strong wills and superior tal? ent. The same path lies open to all. The ladder is hard to climb?wearying to the feet and blistering to the hands?but it has been climed; and there arjo many now in the mire and misery of the bot? tom round, who, unmindful of blisters or weariness, will attain the highest before they die.?iV. Y. Mercury. Bad company is like a nail driven into a post which, after the first or second blow, may bo drawn with little difficulty ; but being driven up to the head, the pinchers cannot take hold to draw it out, it can only be done by the destruction of the wood. Advice and Example.?He that gives good advice, builds with one hand; he that gives good counsel and example, builds with both; but he that gives good admonition and bad example, builds with one hand and pulls down with the other. Bacon. -? Bats in India are called flying foxes, and moasure six feet from tip to tip. Truths for Wives. In domestic happiness the -wife's influ? ence is much greater than her husband's; for the one, tho first cause?mutual love and confidence?being granted, the whole comfort of the household depends upon trifles immediately under her jurisdiction. B}- her management of small sums, her husbah'd's respectability and credit are created or destroyed. ISo fortune can stand the constant leakages of extrava? gance and mismanagement ; and more is spent in trifles than women would easily believe. The one great expense, whatev? er it may be, is turned over and carefully reflected on ere occurred; the income is prepared to meet it; but it is pennies im? perceptibly sliding away which most sure? ly do the mischief; and this the wife alone can stop, for it docs not come within a man's province. There is often an unsus? pected trifle to be saved in every house? hold. It is not in economy alone that the wife's attention is so necessary, but in those niceties which make a well-regula? ted house. An unfurnished cruet-stand, a missing key, a buttonless shirt, a soiled table-cloth, a mustard-pot with its old contents sticking hard and brown about it. are severally nothings; but. each, can raise an angry word or cause discomfort Depend on it. there's a great deal of do? mestic happiness in a well-dressed mut? ton-chop or a tidy breakfast-table. Men grow sated of beauty, tired of music, arc often too wearied for conversation?(how? ever intellectual;) but they can always appreciate a well-swept hearth and smi? ling comfort. A woman may love her husband devotedly?may sacrifice for? tune, friends, family, country for him? she may have the genius of a Sappho, the enchanted beauties of an Armida; but? melancholy fact,?if with these she fail to make his homo comfortable, his heart will inevitably escape her. And women live so entirely in the affections, that without love their existence is a void. Better sub? mit, then, to household tasks, however repugnant they may be to your tastes, than doom yourself to a loveless home. Women of a higher order of mind will not run this risk : they know that their feminine, their domestic, are their first duties.?Examiner. -* Silks.?In the time of the Roman Em? peror Justinian, the idea of making a lu? crative commerce in silk struck the enter? prising sagacity of two Christian monks, who. in the quality of missionaries, had long resided in China. Amidst their re? ligious occupations, they had viewed with an investigating eye the manufactures of silks in that country, the myriads of silk? worms, aud the mode of their treatment. They discovered that the importation of so delicate and short-lived an insect from so great a distance, was impracticable: but they imagined that in the eggs a nu? merous progeny might be preserved and propagated. Knowing 1 ow agreeable the undertaking would be to the imperial court of Constantinople, they arrived, af? ter a long journey, at that metropolis of the Roman empire; and. having imparted I their project to the emperor, were, by the liberality of his gifts and the splendor of his promises, encouraged to carry it into execution. The two monks having trav? eled back to China, and. by concealing the eggs of the silk-worm in a hollow cane, deceived a people ever jealous of its commerce, returned in triumph to Con? stantinople, with the spoils of the East, having made a greater conquest than either Justinian or his celebrated general. Helisarius. had ever achieved. Untier their direction the eggs were hatched by artificial heat; the worms were fed with the leaves of the mulberry tree; they lived and labored, and. by the use of proper means, the race was propa#n*??d and multiplied. Experience and reflection soon corrected the errors incidental to a novel attempt; and in a short time the subjects of Justinian equalled the Chinese in the management of the insects and the manufacture of silk. From Constantino? ple this valuable insect has been gradually introduced into all the southern parts of Europe; and the material produced by k is now manufactured in almost every country in this quarter of the globe. Titus, in consequence of a singular cir? cumstance in the history of commerce, of which the epoch is assigned to A. 1). ?52, modern Europe enjoys, at an easy ex? pense, one of the most costly luxuries of the ancients, which was formerly peculiar to China, and once sold at Rome "for its weight in gold." -?> Immortality op tue Soll.?A sub? stance, like the soul, can have no parts; and what has no parts, must ever be im? pervious, in its own nature, to all vio? lence, and invulnerable against all as? saults. Whatever has no parts, can nev or loso them; and what has nothing which it can possibly lose, must remain unchangeably the same; and what re? mains the same must necessarily bo im? mortal.?Sam uel Drew. Holy Fear.?I have known a good old man, who, when he heard of any one that had committed some notorious of? fence, was wont to say within himself, "He fell to-day, so may I to-morrow."? Bernard. In order to deserve a true friend, we must learn first to be one. A man in earnest finds means; or, if he cannot find them, oreates them. Sekttfo I?oetrjr. No Best Oh, no! I can not rest to-day? There's work, hard work to do ! Work for the willing heart and hand, Life's whole brief period through ! I must not loiter, must not sleep, Save in the friendly night, Which hides beneath her grateful shades, The labors of the light! ? Oh, no ! I cannot rest to-day ! The human heart and mind, In thousand dark and sterile spots, Is groping halt and blind ! And arc there burdens to be borne, And fetters to be broke, And tares of evil to mow down With many a toilsome stroke. Oh, no ! I cannot rest to-day! The world is full of sin, Up springinging, like the noxious weed, A noble field within, And though they be but. tiny blades, Of shower and sunshine born, The laborer needs but re-it, and straight They overtop his corn. Oh, no ! I cannot rest to-day ! The foes are all around. And some concealed in ambush lay. And some dispute the ground. Then let me gird I lie harness on. To wrestle or to toil : The earnest worker yet shall reap A sure and generous spoil. Yes, Labor, Labor?every day? Forgetting pain and sorrow : The passing hour alone is ours, We know not of to-nrorrow, But let us rest upon a day There's nothing to be don'-; If e'er such unexampled time. .Should dawn beneath the situ. Freedom of tiia i3i:iii. Free is the eagle's wing, Cleaving the sun's warm ray? Free is the mountain spring, As it rushes forth to-day ; But freer far the mind? Priceless its liberty; No hand must dare to bind? God made it to be free! You may chain the eagle's wing, No more on the clouds to soar? You may seal the mountain spring, That it leap to light no more: But the mind let none dare chain? Better it cease to be! Born not to serve, but reign? God made it to be free ! Free is the mountain breeze, Floating from airy height ? Free arc the rushing seas, And free heaven's golden light; But freer than light or air, O'er the ever rolling sea, Is the mind beyond compare God made it to be free ! --<? Tiik Art of Thinking.?One of the best modes of improving in the art of thin king is to think over some subject be? fore you readnpoii it; you will then ob scrvo oiler what manner it has occured to -to the mind of some great master; you will then observe whether you have been too rash or too timid; what you have omitted, and in what you hare exceeded : sind by this process yon will insensibly catch a great manner of viewing a ques? tion, it is right in study, not only to think when any extraordinary incident provokes you to think, hut from time to time review what has passed : to dwell upon it, and to see what trains of thought voluntarily present themselves to the mind, it is a most superior habit of some minds, to refer till the particular truths which strike them, to other truths more get era 1 : so that their knowledge is beau? tifully methodised; and the general truth at any time suggests all the particular exemplifications, or any particular cxem j plilicatioti at onec leads to the general truth. This kind of understanding has an immense and decided superiority over those confused h?a'ds in which one fact is I piloil upon nrn'olhui, -.v;M,.i..' leas) I tempt ar classification and arrtiugemciit. Some men always read With a pen in j tin if hand, and commit to paper any new I thought which strikes them; others trust to chance for.its reappearance. Which of these is the best method in the conduct of the understanding, must, I suppose, de? pend a great deal upon the particular un? derstanding in question. Sonic men can do nothing without preparaton; others tittle with it ; some are fountains, some reservoirs.?Mi <\ Shin tj Smith. Christianity.?The defensive of a shrinking or timid policy does not suit her. Here is the naked majesty of truth; and with all the grandeur of age. bin with none of its infirmities, hits she come down to us. and gathered strength from the many battles she has won in the many controversies of many generations. With such a religion as this there is nothing to hide. All should be above board ; and the broadcast light of day should be made full}* and freely to circulate throughout all her secrecies. But secrets she has none. To her belong the frankness and simplicity of conscious greatness; and whether she grapple with pride of philosophy, or stand in front opposition to the prejudices of the multitude, she does it upon her own strength, and spurns all the props and all the auxiliaries of superstition away from her.?Dr. Chalmers. -? The discontented man finds no easy chair. A man behind the times must feed on catch-up. Said a conceited young lady?" You men are a covct-us set." He is a good collector who can, upon I all occasions collect his wits. 1 / How Jed Missed It. Some folks are in the habit of talking in their sleep, and Miss Betsy "Wilson was of the number. This peculiarity she ac? cidentally revealed to Jediah Jenkins, in a careless conversational way. Jediah had just finished the recital of a matrimo? nial dream in which the young lady and himself figured as hero and heroine, he haying invented the same, for the sake of saying, at the conclusion it was "too good to be truo," and by thus speaking para? bles, assuring the damsel of what he dar? ed not speak plainly. "I never dream," said Betsy, "but I sometimes talk half the night, and tell everything I know in my sleep." "You don't say so." "Yes, I can never have a secret from mother; if she wants to know anything she pumps me after I've gone to bed. and I answer her questions as honestly as if my life depended on it. That's the rea? son I wouldn't go to ride the other night. I knew she would find it out?it is awful? ly provoking." Some days after this. Jed called at the house, and entering the parlor unannoun? ced^ found Miss Betsey, probably over? come by the heat of the weather, had lal? len asleep on the sofa. Now Jed, as the reader has surmised, bad long felt an overwhelming partiality for the young lady, and yearned to know I if it was returned, but though possessed i of sufficient courage io mount "the im? minent deadly breach"?or breeches, (connubial ones, we mean) be could never muster spunk enough to inquire into the state of her heart. Birt he no w bcthoughi himself of her confessed soninambulic lo? quacity and felt that the time lo ascertain his fate had come. Approaching the so? fa he whispered? "My dear Betsy, tell me. oh. tell me. the object of your fondest.affections." The fair sleeper gave a faint sigh and responded?"1 love?let me think"?(here you might have heard the beating of Jed's heart through a brick wall)?" I love heaven, my country, and baked beans; but if I have a passion above all others, ir is for roast onions." The indignant lover didn't wake her, but sloped at once, a sadder but not a wiser man. --* Preservation of tiie Mental Powers. ?Fatuity from old age cannot be cured; but it may be prevented by employing the mind constantly in reading and conver? sation in the evening of life. J)r. John? son ascribes the fatuity of Dean Swift to two causes: first, to a resolution made in , his youth, that he would never wear spectacles; from the want of which he was unable to read in the decline of life; ami nnrttitul tfx RLi ai.uio. lirLiob L.il him to abscond from visitors, or deny himself to company; by which means he deprived himself of the only two methods by which new ideas are acquired, or old ones renovated. His mind, from these causes, languished from the want of exercise, and gradually collapsed into idiotism,in which state he spent the close of bis life, in an hospital (bunded by himself for persons afflicted with the same disorder, of which he finally died. Country people, when they have no relish for hooks, when they lose the abili? ty to work, to go abroad, from age or weakness, are very apt to become fatuit ous ; especially as they arc too often de? serted in their old age by the younger branches of the families; in consequence of which, their minds become torpid from the want of society and conversation. Fatuity is more rare in cities than in country places, only because society and conversation (ran be Mad in them on more u:isy tuuuas, and it i.- less common among women than men. only because their, em j ployments are of such a nature as to ad mil of their being carried on by their fire? side-;, and in a sedentary posture. The illustrious Dr. Franklin exhibited I a striking instance of the influence of reading, writing, and conversation, in prolonging a sound ami active state of all the faculties of his mind. In Ins eighty-fourth year he discovered no one mark in any of them of the weakness or decay usually observed in the minds of persons at that advanced period of life.? Dr. Rush. Colonel Jones and Major Smith would oceasionly get on a spree, and their frol? ics were often pro traced until late in the night. On such occasions their pleasure was frequently damped by the thought of their wives at home, who like Tan 0 Shanter's good dame, sat nursing their wrath to keep it warm. One night, after having kept up their frolic until a late hour, they returned home, when Colonel Jones found his wife waiting for him with a countenance that foretold a storm. The colonel, whose face had never blanched be? fore an enemy, quailed before the right? eous indignation of his better half. In stead of going to bed he took a seat, and resting his elbows upon his knees, with his face in his hands, seemed to be com? pletely absorbed in grief, sighing heavily, and uttering such exclamations as " Poor Smith! Poor fellow !" His wife kept si? lent as long as possible; but at last over? come by curiosity and anxiety, inquired, in a sharp tone," what's the matter with Smith ?'?" Ah!" says the colonel, ? his wife is in the sulks with him now." Mrs. Jones was mollified by the joke, and her wrath dissolved. Elopement Extraordinary. The Boone county Pioneer tells the fol? lowing of a young couple of Lebanon, who, if they display as much perseverance in everything else as they did in getting married, will probably mako their way through this world very creditably. A rather amusing instance of a young gentleman in pursuit of a wife "under difficulties" occurred in our place, the oth? er day. It seems that the gentleman in question had been paying attention, with matrimonial views, to a young lady of probably some sixteen or seventeen sum? mers, but his advances were looked upon with no favorable eye by the parents of the damsel. In fact they had rather* strongly insinuated that he "couldn't have her." Of course the " young folks " came to the conclusion that they were an aw? fully persecuted couple, and were, in con? sequence, most gloriously miserable for a while. Finally rendered desperate, they resolved to elope, and Monday night was fixed for the consummation of the drama. Some one said, however, that " the course of true love never did run smooth." and so it proved in this instance. The "old folks" got wind of the matter, and astho gloom of night wrapped in it the face of nature, the tremblingly anxious swain drove up to the house in a buggy, detcr mined to "have her anyhow," ho found his fair one safe and fast under lock and I key. ? . . ?? I . This ended the matter for that night, but early next morning communication ! was opened up between the parties through : sonic channel, and it was arrar.god that the damsel should mako some excuse for i going down the street, when the lover \vas to capture her and carry her off. Again, the fates seemed uupropitious. This scheme was frustrated by the vigi? lance of the fair one's mother, who fol? lowed her down and took her back home. Still bent upon his obstacles, our hero drove up to the house, and the damsel watching her chance, made a dart for the buggy, and just succeeded in getting one foot into the buggy, when the old lady, was not to be out generaled, seized her by the clothes and succeeded in recaptur hcr. The case looked desperate?almost hopeless. This was the third attempt and still a failure But, " love laughs at bolts and bars," and finally, a fourth plan was hit upon to storm the fortress. A lady living in the neighborhood kind? ly volunteered her assistance, and going to the house soon succeeded in engaging the old lad}- in an animated account of her troubles and tribulations, and finally, while she was in the midst of her recital, very coolly locked her in the house. The rest of the story is soon told. The buggy drove up like lightning?the damsel sprang into it?it drove rapidly off, and from the fact that it took the direction of 'Squire Dickorson's, who is equal to the blacksmith of Grotna Green in "splicing couples." we presume the happy pair are long ere this made one and indivisible... --<b Tue Law of Physics.?The laws of physics have an influence so extensive, that it need .not excite surprise that all classes of society arc at last discovering the deep interest they have to understand them. The lawyer finds that, in many of the causes tried in his courts, an appeal must he made to physics, as in cases of disputed inventions, accidents in naviga? tion, or among carriages, steam engines, and machines generally. The statesman is constantly listening to discussions re? specting bridges, roads, canals, docks and the mechanical. industry of the nation. The clergyman rinds, ranged among the beauties of nature, the most intelligible and striking proof of God's wisdom and goodness. The sailor, in his ship, has to deal with one of the most admirable ma? chines in existence. Soldiers in using (heir projectiles, in marching where rivers have to be crossed, woods to be cut down, roads to bo made, towns to be besieged, & :. The land owner in making improve mcnts on his estates, building, draining, irrigating, road making. &c. The farmer, equally in these particulars, and in all the machinery of agriculture. The manufae? i uror, of course the merchant, who solicits ai .. distributes over the world the pro diK ? of manufacturing indu try. Then, al -o, ihe man of letters, that he may not, in drawing illustrations from the material world, repeat the scientific heresies and absurdities which have heretofore pre? vailed. In our cities now, and even in an ordinary dwelling house, men are sur? rounded by prodigies of mechanical art, and cannot submit to use these as regard? less of how they are produced, as a horse is regardless of how the corn falls into his manger.?Arnott on Physics. -*?: The test of enjoyment is the remem? brance it leaves behind it. Why are Presidents like vagabonds? Because they are associated with vices. Ingratitude is so deadly a poison that it destroys the very bosom in which it is harbored. He who puts a bad construction upon a a good act, reveals his own wickedness at heart. A man passes for a sage if he seeks for wisdom; if he thinks ho has found it, he is a fool. Oftentimes the "fastest" young women ' are the most easily overtaken by the gal? loping consumption. In a committee of ladies, we have no doubt but whatever is voted on is alwaya carried by a handsome majority,