The telescope. (Columbia, S.C.) 1815-1818, April 30, 1816, Image 2
.'eaffaess
> , _ iiCiKNTII'H'.
\ I huh T.tr. suv-wni, ?oi.< Mm vs.
0 THE LKCTL'KKS
ti Qri Mineralogy, Botany, Zoology. &c. $tc.
Wv Dr. Mitchill. professor ??!' Natural History*
ill the Medical I'ol lege of tlun city* were con*
chiileil on Saturday, lie had extended them
beyond the bound* of the session, we believe, j
inerelv t?? accommodate a cla** of student*.
After'the final lecture, the class unanimously
deputed one uf their number, to present their
ncknow ledviuiciit* to the learned professor, for
the diligence, /.eal and ability displayed in bin
course of lectures, ami Id* solicitude for their
instruction particularly. Such a tribute wan
jO'tlv due to that friend of science, who, re
gardless of self-interest, delights in imparting
Knowledge, and patronizing those who cultivate
it.-- Having attended the course of chymicul
lectures and experiment.* by Dr. Mac Neveu, ?
ami a few of Dr. M'* in natural history, we are
enabled to know tlx* general opinion entertained
of these professors, and are warranted in Having
that they are considered as tjreat ac<|uir>itions to
the mcdical schools of New-York. The ar
rangement observable through the whole of Dr.
Mac Novell's lectures. was happily adapted to
illustrate a science the most abstruse and impor
tant.* Method seems magically to limit what
is boundless, an I simplify what is intricate. In
learning or teachinu, all ought m be methodists.
In traversing tlie extensive field of natural
history, Dr. Mitchil! nt-\er lost an opportunity
of apply lot; fact-, or pursuing incpiiries. advari
tageous to our country, or explanatory of its his
turv : pointing out the most materiul parts of its
iniueriilogv, or expatiating eiophuticallv on the
uu??< i:?tr inif <|ue.?tions in its '/.oology. It in
Nome, of thoHe invent igai ion.*, al^oiiite demonstra
tiir.i i? unattainable, it is ?mi the less true, that
we eagerly speculate on things, in which proba
.bilitv i? the greutest approximation we rail make
to troth. liemboldt l:imself says, ?? Some parts
of physics and geologv arc merelv conjectural s
and it might be said, that science would lose
much of its attraction, if we endeavoured to con
fute this conjectural part within too narrow lim
its. '* ? Personal .Viirrntive. &c. p. '.2H.5.
Lecturing on the lirst class of mammalia. Dr.
M. properly took a circumstantial review of the
aboriginal Americans, or Indians of North and
South America : the antiquities, and disinter
red h-ldics. implements, customs, relics, &<?.
tliut cast anv light on the subject : all which
?lead to the inference, that the North- \merican
(Indians are of the Tatar (or Tartar) race, and
he South-Americans of the same origin with
*he Midi: vs.
Another lecture, on llio second class of this ;
order. the hrutu, is c ?unectcd,iu some measure,
with the former subject -as, in (reating of the
remains of the elephant and rhinoceros, natives
of the torrid /.one, found in high northern lati -
Aiides. near the polar circle, the lecturer was
JHiliged to take a summary view of (he devasta
ITioiih of thin globe by former revolutions ; of
the facta and theories geological and astronomi
cal. concerning them ; and of the migraiion of
animals. This jwirt of the lecture, embracing
a theme sublime in itself, on which philosophers,
divines and poets, have descanted with euual el
OU'ience, excites the utmost curiosity in all cla><?
om of mankind. ? Tradition tells the savage of a
deluge : holy writ describes it as a punishment
for human crime t and. the naturalist every
where sees proof* of destruction and change.
"Whether he iiiftpcct* the mountains or vallevs,
he meets 44 organic remains of a former world"
at every Htep t marine nubstanrcs on the mono-]
tain's (opt and shells and hones imbedded in
IfOfkv formations far below the surface of the
indeed, according to the opinions of pro
fownd naturalists, thin globe has undergone sev
;?ifcl ioumlatiunH, in corroboration of which they
adduce the successive depositions of bones, eardi
M wind. Atratum above stratum, ns well ascer
tained iif mfferettitimdoiM. Home substances
required ages forth?." formation. It is not
strange therefore MMifcologiat? maintain very
posit i \ elv the 44 vast ariTlfjiiity*' of th e pjlobe be
yond what common records assign to lt? duta
tion. He (his as it may* the naturalist eitleav*
ors to trace eft'erts to their causes. f ^rf
ijuire-. ? How came the animals of the burning'
zone to the verge of the arctic circle ? The com
plete skeletons of the elephant and rhinoceros,
discovered ii: Siberia or in North America, ?
how were tliev brought hi(her or (hither If
nnder the present constitution of tlifl atmos
phere. a general deluge is (according to known
principles.) impossible x the ((colonist enquires,
?how 4* the foundations of the great deep were
broken up" to overwhelm the land? Astrono
mer* ha\e imagined, that the revolution was ef
fected by a change in the. centre of gravity by
which the nolcs of (he earth's axis were objected
mor? obliottelv to (lie hmii bjr several degrees;
whereby a sudden and tremendous irruption of
waters 'brought death on man and beast, and
swept the face of the glolie w if h devastation,
while a change of climate contributed no less to
the destruction of animal life near the present
poles. Dr. Mitchil! entered only incidentally
on (his par( of (he enquiry i referring to natur*
alists and even to poets who had written upon it.
Milton who gives, the philosophy fashionable in
his day, as Virgil interweaves an abstract of the
Platonic and Pythagorean tenets is tho JKneitl,
relates in (he I Ith hook of his Paradise Lost, the
changes which the Deity ordered his angels to
make in the earth after (ho fall t
"To the winds thevset
Thc.r corner*, when with thelduater tri confound
S?r?, rer and shore j the thunder when to roll
With terror through the dark aerial Itnll
Some toy he /mil hi* anifltt turn utluute
The fmftt nf rnrth, twice ten degree* and more,
From tlie sun's title: they with luliour piuh'd
olil.riue tl* centric globe I soinc snjr, die <un
W.o hid turn reirs from thccpi)norti.d rouf
Like distant hreudili lo Taurui with the seven
Atlantic si?ter?, rind the Hpartnn twin*,
l'|i to the tropic Orol? s thence down anuin
Itytoo,and die Virgin snd t he .Settles,
A < deep us CJsprirorn i t? bring in ehttnge
Of ?eoHnt In enth rthne / elv- had tlie spring
I'erpctual siml'don eardi w.th mount Howcr*
frpml In days and nights, except to those
Beyond tlie polar cirelci.*?
If tins In nut a taiisfuclorv solution, it i., ^u.iu
poetry. However we may doubt of causes,
nunc -can iloubt the catastrophe.
Should Dr. Mitcliill cliusu to favour us with a
further epitome of the lecture to which we ttlludo.
we shall publish it? with pleasure. Though
such disquisition* may seem to many as far out
of place in a political gazette as southern quad
ruped* ill the tee of the north, t yet every news
paper, be it remembered, is more miscellaneous
than political. American researches of all kinds
Itecome American journals f whose choiscst
space in variety.
* l).>ul<Uc*s tlio ntlier professors arrnot le*' rapnhlc :
\vc N|>c:vk of (Imisc men .m?l tiling only of which ?? lute
itcaiat kiKiwlcdjfc. \V? IhMicvc the pwnoii tcaclicrs *ii
i ho cullcifv very fit to establish its reputation and n*c
HiImchi, as ti |)li.l<nrt|>lnc;il and medical school.
f Tlar in-onmnih discovered on the emu of Hlhtrin,
hy .Mr. .Vdam<, und sincc cunt'ctcd t,? Hu I'etcrslnirjr, ?'.t*
cut iiimI thawed out ot? the wofrd icc, at great pains ami
CX|KMISC.
Steam Engines. ? Mr. Wm. Willis, of Ncw
llcdford, Ms. we arti informed. has discovered a
new mode of constructing Steam Engines, by
hav !?fc the steam cilinders and steam j.Jpes
enclosed in the boiler, und the steam cocks
wOrked by wires, which lead out of the boiler
through small basins of oil. lie has also disco
vered a mode of placing the steam alinder
horizontally, aiul working rack wheels either
with steam altogether, or by making use of the
pressure of thu atmosphere in tlio common
mode. He has also discovered d new mode
of communicating thr? rotatory motion direct
by racks lining with spring teeth which act in the
teetli of ti e i Hck wheel on one side and trail easi
ly on the other.
Mr. Rob. Gillespie has obtained a patent for a
!St?ain Still on an improved plan. It is said that
these stills are much used in the state of Ten
uesse, and are found to be the best and most pro
fitable ever known there.
Mr. Cieo. Clviner has invented a new Print
ing Press, for w hich he has obtained a patent.?
The editors of the New-York Courier state that i
they liuve erected one of these improved press- j
e?, ^rttl characterize it as an excellent ami use-i
I'ti I machine.
M VXrFACTI ItKS.
rnn*i Tin: a r mom. i .
Observations on the Advantages of encouraging
.liner ican Manufactures.
In order to judge what are the interests which
we recommend to Congress, when we l?eg them
io allbrd hii eltectual support to American
manufactures, it is necessary to have studied
the science of values, and to consider of what
these are composed.
The value of manufactured goods is made up
of several distinct values. 1st* That of the raw
material. ? For the two principal manufactures
of the United States, those of wool and cotton,
the raw material is entirely American ) and
whatever is employed, is to the profit of the a-,
griculturc of the country. The raising of sheep
may produce an immense vain to the Western
States. 2. The value of the wages of tlio work
men, is the most considerable part of lite ex
pense uf manufiictiM ini;. It in putri from dny to
day, and is consumed by the workmen ill bread
and vegetables and other necessaries of life, all
of which are sold by the farmers, and for the
profit of agriculture. The payments, moreover*
are made in cash, without the expense of com*
mission or of transport, and without danger
from storms or from pirates. 3. The surplus
consists of the interest of the capital required)
and in the gain or profit accruing to the employ
er*. for trouble and labor.? These two last arti
cles are commonly confounded. They rarclv
exceed fif teen per cent, of the price of tne good.,
and are often confined to ten. For a long time
hence, they will not even reach to this rate, the
Knglish competition being too powerful. From
this examination of the price of American ma
nufactures, it results that tljhetv, or at least
eighty -five per cent, of this price* is a direct en
couragement given to agriculture t nml ten or
most fifteen per cent, constitutes the profit or sa
lary of tl|C employers, comprehending the inte
rest of Ottr capitals. The question for the le
gislators is rcduceil to this? are you willing to
give to the nntionnl industry in general an en
couragement to Ijo divided thus? ninety, or at
lea-t eighty -five per cent, in favor of* agricul
ture s and ten, or at most fifteen per Cent, for
the pndit of industrious men ? These industri
ous employers spend the part which comes to
them, on the price of the goods, either in arti
cles of consumption derived from agriculture,
' or in improvements, meliorations, ninl exten
sions of their establishments, the produce of
which will still be divided in the same propor
tion ) ninety or eighty -five per cent, for the far
mer, ten or fifteen for thu manufacturer. This
course may continue until America shall lie
throughout, and at all points, completely and
perfectly cultivated. This will be at least for
six hundred years ) and more probably, the reign
of the Increasing prosperity and population of
tlm United States will lie a true iiiillenium. ?
'Hie happy manners of this prudent nation, pre
vent any enterprise from beimg established, a*
in Kurope, to tfie detriment ot others j on the
coutrary, they mutually sujmort each other. ?
The ingenious invention ot hanks prevents the,
want of funds, und gives the advantage of capi
tals even before they are created. It is tacitly
agreed by the medium of hunks, to establish a
mutual credit until the promised enterprise shall
lie brought into activity, and shall afford the
means of defraying its own cost. There are
but few losses, ami these should lie regarded on
ly as a light premium of insurance lor so grpat
a benefit.
consideration* have reaped only to the
interior richen, abundance and pro?j>eritv <?f the
country. Hut tin* noble interest of the national
independence, that of not giving to the agricul
ture Ainl the industry of nnv jealous foreign na
tion, the meaiiH of sending & supporting among
us mercenary brinies, fo lay \>A*te our fields*
burn our cities and insult our women, im ail ob
ject of much higher importance to freemen* to
republicans.
' -i? -iUfcJ-. ? ? .m I. ??!?
AGtucri/ri uk.
rWOM TIIK HO* TON K\ IMSg OAKkTTk.
POTATOES.
Charles Whitlow, Ksq. has rcccntlv publish
c<l in tlio Montreal Herald, *? A method of pre
serving Potatoes fresh, sweet and good, fur six
mouths or longer, from the time that thoy are
dug out of the ground, -o that they shall not l>e
effected by a change to the wannest climate." ?
In publishing this essay, his aim up|?ear* to lie,
that the British settlements in North-America
can supply the West-India Islands with good
and wholesome food, furnish valuable freights to
outward bound shipping, do away the dc|>en
dance of tl?o Islands oil the American Stater
for food, meliorate the condition of the slaves,
and aid in abolishing the slave trade, give nspur
to agricultural exertions, and save the nation at
least annually. We make a few ex*
tracts from hit essay.
" Hie usual mode* at present practised for en
deavoring to preserve Potatoes, is to leave them
after digging, exposed to tho sun and air until
they are dry. This exposure generally causes
them to have a bitterish taste, and it may be re
marked that Potatoes are never so sweet to the
palate as when cooked immediately after diguing.
I lind when Potatoes are laid and left itfTarge
heaps or pitted in the ground that a fermenta
tion take* place which destroys the sweet fla
vour of the |Hitatocs. In order' to prevent that
fermentation, and to preserve Potatoes from lott
ing the original Hue and pleasant flavour, my
plan is (and which experience proves to tue to
the desired effect) to have them packed up in
casks as they are digging from the ground, and
to have the casks when the Potatoes arc piled in
them filled up with sand or earth { taking cure
that this is (lone as s|>eedily as possible, while
the Potatoes are digging, and that all vacant
spaces in the casks are filled up by the earth or
sand. The cask thus packed, holds as many
Butatocs as it would, was thurc no sand used ill
le packing, and as the vacant Spaces of the
cank of potatoes so packed are fined, the air is
totally excluded ana cannot act upon the pota
toes and consequently no fermentation can take
place.
"I nailed from New-York to St. Bartholomews)
and brought with inc two hundred barrels of po
toes, packed in tlae above manner. On my ar
rival at that Island, 1 found, as I expected) that
the potatoes had preserved all their original
sweetness of fluvour, in fact as good as when
lirst dug, having undergone no fermentation,
nor in the slightest degree affected by the bilge
or close air or the ship. Houtf barrels of the po
tatoes I sold there and at the neighbouring Isl
ands for four dollars per bushelf* vjrt the same
time potatoes taken out in bulk* without pack
ing and others that were brought there packed
in casks which had not beet) filled up with earth,
sold inly Tor one dollar a bushel* they being in
jured on the passaget ty-the bilge air and fer
mentation* being bitter And bad^ while miuc
were perfectly awett aod dry as when dug.
What remained I shipped ftiwi St. Bartholo
mew# to Jamaica, where thef|ipmad - U^^jlaual
good condition, and sold at a mgter than
tney bad brought at thu tornier ninma^^HPfe
of tlie casks ol potatoes were pot into a coolcqt
lar, by the purchaser at Jamaica, and on exam
ining them when I was leaving the Island t?vo
months, I found thut they ban in a very small
degree sprouted, but that idl their original fine
fl*ror and sweetness of taste was preserved. I
** Reflecting seriously on this discovery, sug
Slated to my mind the idea of proposing to the
ritisli nation, a mode of supplying their West
India Colonies with a good uud wholesome food,
for the Negro, and also for the White neople,
and which would find an additional market Au
dio farmer at home, a valuable freight for the
merchant, and a more extended market for the
Lumber of the North American Colonics) via :
of Canada, Nova Scotia, Ike. It is well known
that our ships (from Britain) in the West India
trade in general go out in ballast, or not more
than one third freighted, carry out ftoino small
quantity of Kuropean commodities ; hut the bulk
of their freights consisting of W est-lndia casks
laud materials for making casks. It is also well
known how vuluublc a food Potatoes are in the
| West India Islands, amMipw much they are
I ini/.ed there. f
44 No one acquainted with the West Indies
anil it* commerce, but must be aware how much
labor of the unfortunate Negro in at present em
ployed in making of cask*, puncheons, &c. for
the bringing home the produce, and of what im
mense value casks arc there.
44 Let then, timber brought from our North
American Colonies, be made into t'a*ks, Ifhds.
Hum, Puncheons, Coftee llurrcls, ficc. let those
he lilted ill my mode as described with Potatoes,
I contend thuMhe value of the cask which brings
out the potatoes, will more than compensate for
their freight ; mid the earth will keep the cuhk
perfectly sweet and ready without any labor to
bring home any produce.
44 l'lic Potatoes must come ehcan to market,
as the ship-owner can altord low Heights, hav
ing now none or next to none for hi* out bound
vessels.
Mere Mr. "Whitlow outers into arithmetical
calculations.) 44 One acre will produce nearly
30 tout), and fififdi 2-.) acres will yield COO, 0(H)
tomtit ft It*, potato** with a sutliciciicy of good
salt flsfi, are enough to support u nem o a day,
taking ft hearty meals t ho that with the produce
of tho mt|ull spot of laud iiieutioued, with a fair
allowance of lish, nearly 400,000 negroes can be
fed for a whole year.
CONIJWKHS.
HKNVI'K. '
H'rtinHttav, .tfiril 1 7
After disponing of otfier i>iihi i?o>*s, llio Honate
resumed the TnritV bill. Tin* motion wider con*
ftidoration when the Henate adjourned yesterday,
to reducc the duly on wool Icon from 21 to 20 per
cent, ml valorem, to/w negatived, after debate. I?y
ft large majority. A motion to limit tlie contin
uance of tho 8.5 per cent, to one year, instead of
threfc, wa? equally unnucccHnful. An atttempt
to reduce the dutle* on 8?lt from r/0 to I'i
rcr.U fuilo.il. A i.iotion to confine the
tie.* oil 'l'vaii to such as mn v lie import
China, wan agreed to. Mr. Ilurfter im
postponement of tliu bill to a (lav beyi
session : tin; question was taken' by in
noes, mid negatived ? aye* 9. Tim He
journed before it had got lin o' the bill.
'ltiurtdnu, . IfiitflH.
The Senate was engaged until u Into
day on the TarilVbill. No material ami
wuh made to the bill, exciipt onu which
raise the duty oil unmanufactured wool
ed from 7 to 1.1 percent, ed valorem,
on wa? made by Mr. Core, to raise th
still higher (to'*25 cent*) but wax ncgati\
motion wan made to strike out the m
price of cotton goods, which wuh negati
large majority. That motion wax nfterv
newed in substance by Mr. Ilarpor, and
decided when the Senate adjourned.
Frft toy, . Ihvil 19.
The TarifTbill principally occupied
nate to-day. The amendment depeiidi
journment, to strike out the minimuu
cotton goods was negatived* after coi
and able debate. Other amendments
1 proposed and negatived. The bill wa> .
ordered a* amended in Senate, to be rc
time to-m6rrow. 'Hio amendment*
those which hate been stated, are not
JIOCSK OF HKPIIKBKNT AT I
Siitiirihit/, April 1 J.
| Mr. M'Lean, (of Ohio) ni resented tl
of sundry inhabitants of Cincinnati a
cinitv, praying that Homo provision ma
lor Col. Zebulon Pike, father to the I
Piko, whom tho |>etitioncra represent
reduced and needy circumstances j v
referred to the committee of Pensions
Mr. Calhoun from the committee oi
tionul Currency, who were ? yesterday
ed to enquire into the expediency of p
for a limited time, the cx|hii totion of Im
specie, reported a resolution that iti
dient at tlie present time tomakethe'pi
??which was read & ordered to lie on i
Mr. Forsyth from the committee of
Relations, reported, without amendu
bill from the Senate to establish a svste
vigation for the I7. States ; and the
was then committed to a committee of tl
The Speaker laid before the House
from the Secretary of the Treasury, en
statement of the loans made to govern
the several banks within the l/nitedSti
March I, I H 11? ordered to lie on the
The. bill for the relief of Mrs. Hamil
ow of the late (Jen. Alexander Hami
bed through a committee of the whole
resolution was ordered to a third readi
The House resolved itself into u c
of the whole, on the bill providing for
dual increase of the Navy of the Cnite
Some discussion took place on the detai
bill. It was reported to the House wit
mendment, and ordered to lie engross*
third reading without a dissenting vol
the House adjourned.
l' %. 1
and Means, reported a bill increasing tl
liensation of public ministers to * 2,0(M)|
and a bill to reduce the duties on licensj
tailers of wiuoa, spirituous liquors and]
merchandise.
Mr. Pleasants from the Naval cototr
whom was referred the bill from the S
reward the officers and crew of the Con
frigate, made u report thereon, which, \
bill, was ordered to lie on the table.
The engrossed bill providing for the
increase of the Navy, was read the tlii
and passed almost unanimously.
The engrossed bill for the relief of th* >
of the late Gcih Alexander Hamilton, v'uj
the third time and passed?eyes 10, no*
The motion appointing a day for the i
mentof Congress, was called up, and tl
filled with Snturday next, the 30th inst.
resolution sent to the Senate for concur
The House proceeded to consider the
tions reported by the joint committee so
ago respecting the manner of disposing
unfinished Iiuhiiicmh of the session \ wl:
tor Rome <tiscii.?Mioii of proposed atnem
wore jiosf jimihmI until to-morrow.'
The hill from the Sennte respecting v
officers nml crew of thR?1oop or war Wn
sed ulso through a commit tee of the wlioh
and was ordered to a third reading. Adj?
Ifrthtrtit'itr, . Ifiril \"t.
A message wiis received from tho Presi
the I 'nitod State*, transmitting copi?syl
\ention concluded hot wren the I nited
and the. Cherokee Indians, on the '.2d of
Inst, and recommending such provisi
made by Congress ns the stipulations
contained may require. The message \
lerred to theVomniittee of foreign relntin
The House then resolved itself into a c
tee of the whole, Mr. Nelson of Vn. in \
on the bill providing for the collection
due to the government in the lawful mom
country ? in other words to coin|?et the I
resume the pavment of specie. Mr. t
took a succinct view of the hill, and rec.
ted briefly the evils which demanded th
sure. Mr. Smith of Md. moved to sti
the fllst of December, and insert the tnt
hrnary nest, ns the dav on which tho hill
go into operation ? which motion was Ann
gatived by a decided majority. Mr. W.
Ma ?*achtisetts moved to carry the act int
ration on the 1st of Mav n<?Nt, instead oftl
December.? Negatived bv a large majoi
Tho committe then rone and reported t
without amendment i when Mr. Webnte
gesting an amendment which he deemed i
snrv i but not having prepared it, atid tin
being Inte t a motion was made to adjourn
the flutno adjourried.
7V?w*r/ '//# 18.
The unfinished business of yesterday, tl
providing for collecting the <febts due the