The telescope. (Columbia, S.C.) 1815-1818, September 03, 1816, Image 2
tap* Tina), with accuracy, assert, that if we
could prevent the depredation* of oue insect,
the curculio, which in iU larva state, prey* up*
mi our drupaceous fruit, tho peach, the necta
rine, the plum, the chorry, in all of their varie
ties, we need onvy no country its orchards) but
might exhibit on our tables, at little or no cost,
oh great a variety. and a* finely flavored fruit
us any climate with which we are acquainted
can produce. It is only by a thorough acquain
tanco with tho natural history of insects, that
v.c can hope effectually to lessen their numbers,
or to retrain their ravages) and although we
tdiould not bo able altogether to prevent -their
injuries for they sometimes seem to walk
abroad as ono of the scourges of Providence f
vet it is only from enlightened effort* that wei
have a right t<v expect an alleviation. Industry,
with knowledge, will diminish many of the evils
which ignoranco and indolence must certainly
aggravate.
Front the vegetable kingdom it is probable that
every specie* of oi-gauir.ed animated being, ei
ther immediately or mediately derive their sub
sistence. In the terrestrial animals this fact is
obvious, for the carnivorous ultimately depend
the graminivorous or granivorous for food,!
And among the inhabitants of the ocean the
tame analogy probably prevails, and the minute
insects, which, in the first degree support the!
superior tribes, draw their nourishment from the I
nquatic plants which border every^river, or the,
marine ulgre which so abundantly inhabit many
parts of the ocean. From the vegetable king
dom arc derived nearly all of those articles,
which arc employed to palliate or cure the dis
eases, and to alleviate the sufferings to which
the human frame is liable. What volumes have
been written on the dietetic and medicinal vir
tues of plant)*; and although much that has
been written might without injury be consigned
to oblivion, much remains to lie written before
a correct or a complete know ledge of their qua
lities can be obtained. Improvement in this
has kept pac? with improvement in other depart
ments of science, since experiment and an en
quiry into facts have superseded idle specula
tions and fantastic theories. From the vegeta
ble kingdom we derive much of our clothing,
many of our dyes, ami many of the material* of
our manufactures. Can a knowledge of substan
ces, so intimately connected with our want* and
infirmities, be uninteresting and useless ? Can a
knowledge of substances occupying so large a
space in the works of creation be unworthy our
attainment? It is not a mere terminology that
we should pursue in this science. The struc
ture, habits and affinities of plant* should be ob
jects of our research. Agriculture and garden
ing arc but branches of philosophic botany, and
all rational expectation of improvement in these
most important departments must be founded on
a substantial and accurate knowledge of the
principles of vegetation, of the physiology of
plants, and of the causes which; in different cli
mates, or in different soils, promote or retard
their growth, and their productiveness.
Systematic botany gives order to our know
ledge, enables us to ascertain and arrange the
different species of plants, which actually exist
on the earth, to know with certainty those,
which in different or distant countries, have
been found useful to man, and brings to view,
although as yet imperfectly, the great natural
associations which exist in the vegetable king
dom.
To the most commnp observer, the affinities
in certai^ families of plant* must be obvious.
'I'll? graminc?, the cyjteraccte. the cruciate,
the labiatre, the leguminoste, the umbellifrne,
t!ie different divisions of the Linntean Syngene
Miw, the apocyneir, tho orchidere, any many
others, have resemblances so striking, that they
have always attracted the attention of the mos't
superficial investigators of nature. In many
filants. however, these affinities, or connecting
inks, become remote or uncertain. Home of the
ablest botanist'- in the world, nre now endeavor*
ing to complete the knowledge, and establish
the system of natural orders. Should they sue*
reed'in this great enterprise, should they be a
ble to distribute, by characters, which however
?dight, shall be certain, however obscure, shall
be permanent, all the vegetable kingdom into
families, having one common structure, one
common habit, and which, even when scattered
over distant climes, shall possess common ooa
lities, adapted to similar uses: science will then
have rendered to rnnn one of the most important
services which, perhaps, science car bestow.
Yet it is much to be apprehended, from the difR
rulty which has attended this enquiry, from the
exceptions which seem to arise, even among
species of the same genus, that this result is un
attainable \ that nature never permiU Us toge
ncialize but at the expense of truth. ThaPall
real knowledge is a knowledge of individuals,
acquired by patient research and repeated expe
riment, although in tliese researches we may
undoubtedly be aided by the knowledge of kin
drcd species, which wc may already have ob
tained.
In an nccurate and extended view,the science
nf natural history includes almotft every object
of human pursuit i but in its general acceptation
it is confined to the three great divitdons of zoo
logy. botany, and mineralogy. Beside* the ex
tensive -relations which this science bears to
man, besides Its multiplied uses, permit me to
recommend it to the -attention of men of wealth
and leisure, if only un the more humble ground
of occupation and amusement. While it gives
employment to the understanding, and habits of
accurate and attentive observation, it does not
require the deep and long abstractions of mathe
matical enquiries, nor the laborious exertions,
or manual dexterity of chemical experiments.
It is every where present. It meets you in air,
on the earthy and on the water i it can lie bro't
into the closet, or surround you at the fire-side.
Jn,the examination of natural substance*, you
,lL ? ^ -'-that arises from color,
every
? -jmbb ? th that
pleasure which is derived from the contempla
tion of endless, Inexhaustible variety. If to th?
eye of taste, the lawn, the grove, the stream, Ute
mountain, the ocean, the inanimate bosom of
nature,afford undated pleasure, what must be the
increase, when science gives to every oMectthat
surrounds you, intelligence and life. When the
very earth on which ydto tread becomes am*
mated, when every rock, every plant, every in
sect, presents to jour view an organization so
wonderful, so varied, so complex) an adaptation
of means to endfc so simple, so diversified, so ex?
tensive, so perfect, that the wisdom of man
shrinks abashed at the comparison. Nor is it
to present existences that our observations are
confined, 'kite mind will sometimes delight to
retrace the march of ages, to review the great
formations of the universo i to examine of earth
the revolutions, the convulsions, that have form
ed and deranged its structure?of its inhabi
tants, the creation, the dissolution, the continual
reproduction. To admire that harmony* which,
while it has taught each being instinctively to
pursue the primary objects of its creation, has
rendered them all subservient to secondary pur
poses.
We find every where life, intelligence and
order. We feel ourselves surrounded by mo
numents of immeasurable power, of incompre
hensible wisdom, of illimitable goodnessa We
survey and examine them, until knowledge is
lost in astonishment, until wonder yields tb ado
ration. We exclaim with the psalmist " Great
and wonderful are thy works, Lohd'God Al
mighty, in wisdom hast thou made them all.**
To facilitate the study of natural history, we
should endeavor to form a museum, where we
may collect specimens of all the objects which
nature exhibits to our view. It should be parti
cularly our aim, to eluciilate the natural history
of our own country, and to obtain snecimjbns of
our native productions. If the funds of <rar in
fant society are too limited for such an establish
ment on an extended scale, we may at le^t lay
the foundations and leave the superstructj
our successors. In many departments of
ral history, as mineralogy, botany, c
entomology, the specimens, until our
bccome considerable, would not occ<
room, and can be preserved with a tit
tion. The animals of larger si7.e anr
difficult preservation, may be added,
and opportunity permit. IIow interesting
it be, to behold in one assemblage the rithitrea
sures of nature. To view the quadrupeds, the
birds, the fish, the insects, the shells, the vege
tablet*, the minerals, of the most remote shores,
the wildest deserts, the most inhospitable climcs i
the production* of every land and every sea con
gregated together 5 arranged according to natu
ral associations, or artificial characters, or group
ed by geographical relations. Than such a col
lection, we can imagine nothing more delightful
to the eye, nothing morforratifying to the ander
standing. With these objects mar be coanect
cd the works of man; works calculated to illus
trate the manners, customs, arts, the wants and
improvements of different ages, or to explain
the geography, chronology, history or mythology
of ancient and modern days; Coins, medals,
cameos, intaglios, sculpture, statuary* painting,
arms, manufactures, will all increase the value
of such a collection t and a library adapted to
our pursuits, and selected and designed to pour
the lights of science over the fabnc of nature,
would complete tho establishment*.
The study of natural history has been for na
ny years the occupation of my leisure momentsj
it is a merited tribute to say tliat it has lighteied
for me many a heavy, and smoothed mail) a
ragged hour) that, beguiled by ils charms, I
have found no road rough or difficult, no jourscy
tedious, no country desolate or barren. In so
litude never solitary, in a desert never witluut
employment. 1 have found it a relief from the
languor of idleness, tlx: pressure of business, or
the unavoidable calamities of life.
(To heconlitiiKNl.) ,
LITERARY.
IIIHTOHICAI. HKKTCIIKS OF T1IK LATH WAII.
The bent information respecting the event* of
the late war has hitherto l>een oral. Of certain
special occurrences we have received v (trims
and contradictory narrations, but until lattly,
nothing has appeared to give to the scries of e
vents the confirmed stamp of history. A work
has lately been published in Philadelphia, from
the pen of Mr. Thompson, under the modest ti
tle of " Sketches of tne late War." which con
fers more than anv tiling which has yet been
laid before the public. It is a circumstantial
detail of the transactions of that interesting pe
riod, and discovers a peculiar and successfel in
dustry in the collection of historical incident.
It is minute without being tedious, and without
pretending to elegance, is always clear and per
spicutfus. The events of Washington and N.
Orleans are concisely narrated, but those of
every other period of the war are told with a
minute and interesting accuracy. We recom
mend it as a work of historical merit anil fair
ness \ and shall from time to time enrich our
columns with extracts from it. In the present,
we offer the detail of the brilliant and important
eventa which transpired in the West, under the
command of General Harrison.-? Host. Pat.
" When General Harrison had come up with
the main body, and was advised of the advan
tageous situation of the enemy, he ordered Col.
Paul, with one hundred and 'fifty reauiarit, to
occupy a space between the road and the river t
to auvance upon and divert the enemy, and on
an opportunity, to aeir.e the cannon which de
folded his left flank. Lt. Col. James Johnson
was directed to form Major Payne's battalion of
the mounted regiment, and Major Ruggett's .1
spy bompanies, into six charging columns, im
mediately in front of the Itritish line of regu
lars and an Indian flai>k j whilst Gen. Henry's
division of infantry, should lie stationed for his
support,in the rear. Col. H. M. Johnson was
charged with the formation of another battalion
in front rif the Indians, who were arrayed on
the margin of the swamp. He accordingly dis
mounted one company, under the command of
Capt. Htucker, with which he stretched a line
(n the face of the Indians, and ordered Major
Thompson to form tho remaining four compa
nies, on horseback, into two charging columns of
double files, immediately in tho rear of the tine
on foot* The left of this battalion was support
ed by tho infantry of (Jen. Desha.
" Thus disposed, with the main army in their
rear, these divisions moved forward to the at
tack. The British cave the first lire, upon which
the charge was quickly ordered, and in a few
moments the enemy's line wns pierced by up*
wards of one thousand horsemen, who, dnsliing
through the British regiment with irresistible
speed, either trampled under fout or cut down
every soldier who opposed them } and huvitit! I
killed and woundeu onwards of fifty nt one
charge, instantly formed in their rear, and re
peated the attack. Such was the panic which
pervaded the whole line of tho enemy, that an
order which had been given to fix bayonet, was
not attempted to be executed i and, in a little
while, Colonels Evans, Wurhurton and Baubee,
and Majors Muir and Chambers, surrendered
with four hundred and seventy-two prisoners.
The charge had no sooner been made, than Gen.
Proctor, tearing the consequences of his con
duct in Michigan, if he should be taken in this
battle, abandoned his command, and Ins escape
in a carriage, under a strong escort of dragoons.
" Whilst this brilliant charge was making on
the right, the action was raging with great vio
leace on the left. Between the Indians there,
and the mounted men and infantry drawn up a
gainst them, it was longer and more obstinately
contended. The Indians were commanded by
Tecumseh, who fought with more than his ac
customed skill, and navin^; posted his warriors
i|i the best possible situations to repulse an at
tack, ho indicated his willingness to receive the
assault of the American cavalry. Col. Johnson
who saw that the Indians would dispute the
ground with more bravery than the British re
gulars, placed himself at the head of hi* batta
lion,and led it up to a vigorous charge dpoii Te
cumseh's flank. That chief at the same fa
stant dealt out a tremendous fire, which,,, tho'
severe in its effect, did not retard the movement
of the advancing columns. But the difficulty
of penetrating the thicket and swamn, threw an
impediment in the way of a successful result to
an onsent with dragoons, and the attempt to
break the Indian line, in consequence, failed.
An engagement immediately took place, how
ever, in which, after exchanging several rounds
with Tecumseh's bund, Col. Johnson ordered
both his columns to dismount, and leading them
up a second time, he made a desperate, but suc
cessful effort to break through tho Indians.?
Having gained the rear of their line, his next
order directed his men to tight them in their
own mode. 'Hie contest now became more ob
stinate. Notwithstanding their line had been
thus pierced, and their warriors were falling in
considerable numbers, the Indians did not think
themselves yet discomfited, and quickly collect
ing their principal strength npon the light, they |
made an attempt to penetrate the line of infan
try under Gen. Desna, in this they had par
tially succeeded, a part of that line having faul
tcred, when Governor Shelby brought up the 3
companies of his volunteers to its support, and
in turn threw back the Indians.
" Meanwhile Col. It. M. Johnson had Wen 5
times wounded, and in that state, covered with
blood, and exhausted by pain and fatigue, lie
personally encountered Tecumseh. The Col.
was mounted on a white charger, at which, be
ing a conspicuous object, the Indian?* had con
tinually levelled their fire. A shower of bullets
had fallen round him t his holsters, his clothes,
and most of his accrouti ements, were pierced in
several places ; and at tlie instant when he dis
covered Tecumseh. his horse received a second
wo)ind.* J$^*iueeh, having discharged his rifle,
apfrni fofrtmd with his tomahawk, and had it
! already raised to throw, when Col. Johnson's
horse staggered back, and immediately tho Col.
drew fortn a pistol, shot the Indian through the
head, and l>otu full to the ground together."
I.KAVR8.
" In seeking an appropriate title for these lit*!
He noems," aays the author,441 have feared to
imply too mucli ) I have tailed thwin leaves."
But what Leave* arc they ? rosc-leuves, of faint
but undeceiving fragrance, fit for a lady's dain
ty ftiparcl ; <?r l?ny -leaven, or myrtle leaves,
hucIi uh may form an evergreen chaplut for the
bard ? Or are they such leave* oh nobler treed
in the exuberance* of their strength nut forth in
bonor of the spring, and shed with the changing
season to the naming breer.e?leaves whose on*
ly value wan tneir fieshnvss, and which we tread
upon in soberer age, and moralize on their de
cay. Our author ban taken for the motto on
the title page,
" leave* thM utrow the hrookt
In Vutl% tmhroin." Milton.
'Iliey are leaves that have fallen, we suppose in
the silence of contemplative solitude.
The volume consist*, in fact, of a series of
poems, of very unequal merit; some of them
are iinitations'from the Italian ; others remind
ed us of Gessner's Idvls ? none of them de
ploy any considerable degree of energy of mind,
or originality, but they are for the most pari
highly elegant and pleasing. 'I'hey are such
productions as would never eonfer distinction
on their author's name, but yet they afford no
reason for concealing it. 14 Children," are the
subjects of most of them. 44 Menuty," 44 at
achment," 44 sensibility," 44 evening," are the
titles of others. The author scarcely attempts
any thing of a higher character. "They ?re
what the title tkwignates them?/wire*. We
select the following as no unfavorable specimen :
TlIB 01111.0 U?VK, AND ClP.NIL'H
" It rhunerd in lotuly vide ufar,
By woods, and purple evening ftliaderi,
Wliile o'er it hunjfthc IdaliaO utar,
Thr?t I/>ve, with tiny jkotrtp, paraded.
" And mine tlir <rene, awl mine the Imor ?
Ifc ?aid, .?nd flnn^ It ? how hende lino ;
Hot ?? it fell it rmdicd d?e flower?
lli? own dear flower when Joyt l>et.?te him ?
'I1i?n fcomwing wept tl* wayward child*
His pr.de wiu got>eth.? ?tw dccl'n 'ug !
When Cc?iu?o'er him clircr>n& smiled,
j And lent hit lyre?-?with am.tiiirith tw.n
Ik touched. and triumphed at the tones
(Though but too sooth had Ceuius nie?
Ami ?oon tU miffhtler powir htuwim,
And oh t the heightening grace he Jen
Wondrous the ehaitli! it* plaintive sout
Through Millie heart's tecc^es rov ng
Whilo beamed it* ntrfyiga in light around
And loTcliest visions o'er it moving.
The hoy with r.ipture viewed the lyre,
As on it* chords hit touch repotte.* i
Yet, childiih (till, with fond desire,
Would change its amaranth lor ro^ct
Tlirn Genius loud excla'-ipcd??? FWIieai
Nor from my lyre its own wreaths *e\c
But, winder, twine thy lli>wr?ts (lime,
To bloom with iniur, and bloom for c\
'Hie volume is not cntircly< free from
cie* of affectation which may be styled
dautry of Jaste j niitl it displays, perhan
reading than thought. The Cottage <Jir
mMit nave been omitted with advantagi
following poem, too, in liable to objectioi
score of oeing either a very improbable
ry ill-told story. Wo must confess, tliu
not quite understand. whether our aul
signed to represent the clqld an an ink
infant suicide, or to coavoy (lie Idea,
mistook the uncunscious wax ?? for 44 ?
groves" and a heaven of biaiity, and
tlie ita shore,a victim to the caleuture !
Eclectic It*
Ji Sjtecimen of an Appendix to Johntoi
11onury,
What I purport (says the Preface)
Appendix, is to enlarge the terms do
explanation, and which, like base meta
the legitimate coin, Imve by usage bec?
Hnt'in our language, and without w
commerce of the world, or oven the
letters, can with difficulty be maiutaine
witH profit or delectation. To explt
may command some glory? to coutt
their extirpation would give more su
fame.
Wishy-washy, fiddle-faddle, slap-da
drum, harum-scarum, pit-pat, rautum
chit-chat, prit tie-prattle, hoity-toity,
hubble-bubble, humpey-duinpcy,litigjrVr
hiccius-doccius, hurdy-gurdy?all tlies
explanification in an etymological work
It is easy, from this slight specimen
jpose extension and amplification. Pr
thorities will Imj t>u!ijoiiicd, as vouche
existence of every word and from thu
cited, and its various signification)
there an; more than otic, specifically e
ed, and corroborated by typographica
tics.
He who writes a dictionary of any
may be considered as laboring in a c
lie who collects the refuse of t lauguaj
unusual commisseration, as silting the
H'ggk'h'piggledy?Congloiueratiw
fusion.
Hcribblc-scrabble?-Pages of inanity.
Seesaw?Alternate prepondeiution.
Mum-chance? Mental torpidity.
Fet-faw-fnm?(Jlgantic intonat'ton.
Hobble-de-hoy?The period betwec
cence and pubertv.
Tittle-tattle?futile conversation.
WiUij-nilly?An involuntary act.
Tlt-for-tar?Adequate retaliation.
ItingU-dangle?Aerial suspension
Hurrycurry?Inordinate prctii.it
tihilly'tltally, (a corruption of Stial
tation and irresolution.
Hurley-hurley?^Tumult and confu
Taji?y-lurvytar*y'ver*y?An invei
pitals and fundamentals.
Hiddle-me-ree? An enigmatic exon
A*innt/-hammer?An asinine wretch
Uncun-nocm?Pseudo necromancy.
JKnr-ilvvg?Tintinabulary chinas
taphorically to express vehement di*p
Hlgmarole?Incoherent and rhapso
Tag-rag^ II {ff-raff?lb* Swinish
Zig-zag?'1 ransversn angles.
Hodge-po<lge?\. culinary mixture
geneous ingredients, applied metaph
all discordant combinations.?Salem
A new work has lately been Issued
Knglish press with tlihi imposing tith
and arguments, indisputably demonst
the letters of Junius were written by .
is do Holme, author of tho celebratet
tho Knglish Constitution." It is fro
of Dr. llusbv. No copies of this ?
yet reached this country.
AGRICULTURAL
rmm Tim rauiuh MMiirrm.
The general decay nf Pettrh-Trte*,
by a Fly.
Some yearn na*t ( was about to pr<
voting I'euch-'l rres to phut out, but v
that- tliey had become ko short lived th
lie labour to ?io profit, anil on bent in
account from many experienced farini'
ed planting any. However, in the
an apprentice boy planted a few tr
rnrncr* ; they apjiear to grow tolerab
following summer, but nearly all die
after, except mime uproot* that can
the loots, and the wciflls grow very t
them I which I now suppose to l>e tlx
that saved tlieni ali\e, by guarding
and on repairing the fehce early in <
next vonr tbe sprout* were very thi if
tbe leucc away and bad all tbe rub
oft', trimmed and dug about them
beginning of winter there was a lai
of gum issued cut of them just at the
ground, and on scrapng it away,
a Hinall hole in the bark which led
between toe baik and wood, fillet1
ooiojHiKed of wnrin>du?t mixed wi
and a small white worm lodged !i
uit immediately taken from about
the treea, ami all the worms tin
veniently be found were carefull
aud towards the spring of 4be jreM