man mind. A few miserly persons yet maintain the now, live as they did live a few years ago, so far as simplicity of former times, but "the million" be- my observation and information extends. Pride, lieves that the "world owes them a living" and will pomp and splendor, as well as sheer luxury and what enjoy it, if they can. Herein is the true secret of is sometimes called comfort, derive much of their of the steady rise of the revenue derived from du- real value (if any thing they have) from comparison. ties on articles imported, notwithstanding the stea-The black broth of the Lacedemonians was their dy progress and accumulating force of domestic great enjoyment, though the humblest stranger manufactures; for I could enumerate many which could scarcely keep it on his stomach; and, in such a have for several years, been equal to the home con- state of society, if a person had indulged himself sumption, that, 30 years since, were extensively fur- with sheep's head soup, he would have been considernished from foreign countries-instance, the costly ed as great an epicure, and, perhaps, have derived articles of shoes and other manufactures of leather as much pleasure from it, as some now enjoy in feastand hats, and many manufactures of iron. But the ing upon green turtle and fresh salmon. In the compeople were able to pay for more goods and of nicer mon decline of pomp and shew, from compulsory requalities, and they would have them. There is not an trenchment, the really wealthy may still have preimporter of 25 years standing who does not know eminence without such sacrifices of money and ease, of the great difference in the market, as to quality as the elegancies of "Tom, Dick and Harry" lately as well as quantity: the business of some had almost compelled them to make, to obtain it-for "Tom totally changed-from coarse cloths they jumped Dick and Harry" are found out to be rogues, have to "London superfines," &c. and we heard no more been to jail and there paid there debts, and are of a pair of boots lasting five or seven winters: the ve- considered as-nothing. A little while ago, I frery boys were furnished with them and their economy quently saw the streets crowded in an evening, praised if they wore them for a year! I can well with a bustling multitude dashing in carriages, to remember the first pair that I had. I lived in Phila- Mrs. Anythings party. An orderly man could hard. delphia at the time, was about 17 years of age, and ly get along for them. I have heard of three hundres "thought something" of myself because my father persons "taking tea" with the wife of a servant of a had left me about 3000 dollars. They cost me four bank! But madam's husband "can't afford it,” any dollars, and many of my friends were fearful that longer, or so much respects common decency that the purchase shewed an extravagant disposition! he will not allow it. So those whose may afford But what alterations since then-brought about by it, receive the same comparative eclat for having our being nursed in the hot bed of prosperity, 30 or 40, which they used to derive from having 3 or through rivers of blood flowing in Europe! We pro- 400 at their parties; and it is much better, because ceeded from less to more-and a journeyman me-in a company of the former dimensions, you may chanic wasted more in his family than would have maintained a similar family in the old world. The necessity did not exist, and there was no desire to save. A new coat rendered a new hat indispensa ble, and that also required, perhaps, a new gown for the wife, and so on, ad infinitum! find a satisfaction not to be expected in the other, designed only to make a noise. It is thus also with gentlemen's dinners and suppers--10 or 20 are occasionally invited, instead of having 20 or 40, frequently. The style is still maintained, but fashion does not call for its exhibition so extensively nor In such a state of things, under a frugal adminis- so often. "The top of the wheel" is still held, and tration of the public affairs, it may be easily sup- that is enough. Fellows who robbed the widow posed that the revenue exceeded the expenditures, and the orphan, and plundered labor of what it had and that the national debt was rapidly diminished, earned by the sweat of its honest brow, no longer without detriment, in any respect, to the general rival the solid capitalists. Things of yesterday do welfare. We did not take "from the mouth of la- not jump into the first rank and kick at their old bor the bread which it earned," and our country acquaintances as they used to do, and mobs of richbounded to population and wealth at home, and ly dressed men and women no longer collect round respectability and importance abroad. In the first their doors: though yet some of these, who have period of Mr. Jefferson's administration, the pub-received the benefit of the insolvent laws, are allic disbursements, except on account of the public most the only persons who can afford to give two debt, hardly exceeded three millions per annum, dollars for a peck of early peas or as much for as and I guess we were as well governed then as we many delicious peaches. I met a scoundrel who by are now, when they amount to four or five times as going to jail, had paid me a little debt, that was buymuch! But I intend shortly to put the expenditures,ing peaches at the rate above given, and the creaitem by item, in apposition, that we may see how ture shrunk into nothing, when I told him that I they were and what they are; making due allow-could not pay such a price because I had not been ances however, for the actual change of our condi- before the commissioners of insolvency, and did not tion as to ourselves, and in respect to our relations at present expect to "travel that road." This set with foreign countries. of persons are nearly swept out of the fashionable But to proceed to shew why the revenue has di-world, and I pray to God that such a class of beings minished and why it must still decrease, if the pres- may never return to it-for their example is prosure on domestic industry remains. This is easily ductive of incalculable mischief. Perhaps some, done. We know that many luxuries which had al-on reading these remarks will say "he means me;" most grown into necessaries, must be dispensed yes, I do mean you, and I congratulate you that, for with, that real necessaries may be obtained. Athe first time perhaps, you have recognized your. large part of the present dullness of trade and self! Then, look at yourself! "scarcity of money," is owing to a diminished con- But the general retrenchment spoken of may be sumption of costly articles, for food and raiment, or proven from a multitude of facts. In the New for ornament and shew, whether of foreign or do-York, Philadelphia and Baltimore newspapers, you mestic product. It is a hard thing to retrograde in these, but-necessitas non habet leges; what "can't be cured must be endured." There are few even of the most wealthy, (except some steady-habited old fellows who never conformed to the times), who may often see the grocers puffing off their wines by saying, that certain particular pipes were expressly imported for private use. Their sayings are true. The gentlemen who ordered it, had found out that there was an end to paper credit when the wine ar and that people of quality are getting a right character in society as persons who ought not to be countenanced. We are mending rapidly; and the plain sober citizen, "who fears God and pays twenty shillings in the pound," is rising unknown to himself to merited pre-eminence:-but we must have some fools and some rogues too, I suppose, to "make up the assortment." rived, and, though they might have retained some are lessening as well in quantity as in impudence, money, it would "look" too bad to see a pipe of wine going into a bankrupt's cellar; and the fact is, that our grocers hardly sell one gallon of their costly wines for ten which they used to dispose of. So also it is with every business, trade or profession, which furnishes us with luxuries-from the wine merchant to the confectioner; and if it was now known that a man in an ordinary trade gave his wife a shawl which cost $500, his note would certainly be "turned down" at bank. Do not let any plain friend in the country think this extravagant. A person in Baltimore, who failed without any rightful cause as owing to the severity of fortune, suffered his wife to wear a shawl which cost 800-and some have cost 1000 or more!!! The landholders, or possessors of houses and lots, also, it may be safely said are reduced at least fifty per cent. in their revenues, compared with what they were five or six years since. These, generally a pretty sober and discreet people, have reduced their expenses, and do without many things which they used to indulge themselves in. I know some persons who lived luxuriously upon their rents, who now can hardly live at all-their houses are idle, or tenanted at one third or one half of their former rates. Five years ago, all the large stores in Market street, &c. in Baltimore, were cut into two, and then there was not enough of them; and a dwelling house could hardly be had--if a man talked of moving, fifty were applying for the property. The stores have resumed their old shapes, and dwelling houses are abundant. I believe that we have 10,000 less inhabitants now than we had in 1815; and, by calculation, I have concluded that the property on Market street at this time, if all on rent, would produce a sum less by $250,000 a year, than it would have produced as rent, in that year. We may be worse off than others, though it seems commonly agreed that we are not; for we have recently im ported but small quantities of goods-still, our case It is thus that the fashimable world, every where in the nation, is settling down into moderation and decency. Among this class were many who talked of their rank, and prided themselves on their families, who would have been much offended if told what their fathers were or they themselves had been. I knew a really respectable old lady, whose children considered themselves as of some peculiar breed, like an African king when dressed up in a British soldier's regimental clothes, who thus spoke of her situation to one of my nearest friends: "I never have known happiness since I ceased selling small beer and ginger cakes. My children were then kind and obedient-but somehow they have got up in the world, and their great effort is to forget from whom they sprung. I am as a piece of old lumber which offends their pride, and they therefore wish me dead and out of the way.' Some of these high ones certainly deserve exaltation-if hanging is right in itself," as Mr. Harper said that impressment Things are reversed. Cities and individuals, who was; and others who put things in their neck-cloths have purchased least of foreign goods, are generalto keep their heads up and talk of quality, were ly best off. The prudent merchant or shop-keeper boatmen, common laborers, hod-carriers, scaven- will do no more than keep up his assortment-ragers and pedlars,* or the immediate descendants ther risk a rise in price than over-stock himselfof such-perhaps, the sons and daughters of per- because he can buy or let it alone; but, if he pursons kindly sent hither as convicts and sold as slaves, chases, he must pay for his merchandise. We learn to work in the field with the negroes. The chil- there is a fine assortment of goods in Baltimore, dren of none of these are any the worse for it, and and for sale at what are said to be very low prices, heaven forbid, that I should ever visit the sins of the but the quantity on hand is not so great as to cause father upon his innocent offspring; but the airs many large sacrifices. Another case may be menwhich they sometime take upon themselves, are tioned-we see frequent arrivals from the Westenough "to make a horse laugh" at them. They Indies, and some from Europe, with specie: the first despise mechanics and all others who labor, as if is because West-India products commonly sell at a it was a mortal sin against gentility to make a liv-loss, and certainly, on an average, do not yield sir per ing in an honest way! I rejoice that these creatures cent. on the capital employed in the trade, and European goods are a drug. There are many import*These callings are not mentioned as disgrace-ed articles which may be bought in the markets of ful, except the last-a worthless set of beings and generally rogues, too lazy to get their living honestly. I never see one of them prowling near my house without thinking where I put my cane, though my disposition is as peaceable as any man's, and I always instantly order them out, if they enter my door. Nor should the misfortunes or crimes of a father bring a reproach upon his innocent children-but they ought not to talk of their quality nor boast of their families. I know a very worthy shoemaker's daughter who refused to marry an amiable young man, because he was a mechanic-she wanted a gentleman, and got a little vender of tapes and bobbins. He dashed for sometime in great stile, but, having no capital or resources in himself, the candidate for high life is to be found at a house over the door of which is affixed the sign of "rooms to let," one of which she occupies in penury and want, But her rejected admirer may drive his own coach, if he pleases to do so, and is respected by all that know him. our principal cities, for less money than they cost at the places in which they were manufactured. Hence, persons dealing in particular articles of our produce find it advantageous to remit specie, for that is not so liable to bankruptcy and loss as bills on our merchants; who, from the pressure of the times and over-dealing, cannot pay as they used to do. Within the last five years we have cancelled, I believe, not much short of $100,000,000, owing to persons in Europe, by our own acts of insolvency-and so far and by such means, we have made a profit on foreign trade: a profit which I despise so much, that I would rather be "a hewer of wood and a drawer of water" all my life, than partake of their benefit, as to an ultimate, honest payment of my debts. -An anecdote may illustrate this--during the last summer I happened to meet an old acquaintance, whom I had not seen for fifteen years-during which time he had become a British agent; and he said to me, "Niles, you need not be so hostile to John Bull, in respect to his manufactures, for we do may serve as an index of that of our country at large, so far as it depended on commercial pursuits. a present speech-making age, that many members of congress speak to popularity instead of the ques After these follow the retrenchments of the tions before them-besides they do not like to be most numerous, or laboring classes-the stamina considered as enemies of the army, or navy, &c. by of the country, its pride in peace and its defence proposing a reduction of the expenses of either. in war. The retrenchments of the other classes If a man was to say that the whole profit of the affects them materially, but the general want of trade to the Brazils (for instance), will not requite employment and the difficulty of obtaining pay-the cost we have been at in sending out and bringment for what they have to dispose of, even at re-ing home ministers from that contemptible court duced rates, has brought many of them to a state some would think that he was interfering with the only removed froin poverty, who hitherto lived business, of the executive. If another objects to the plentifully and sometimes luxuriously. Desire no Missouri expedition, as being much larger than ne longer presses upon enjoyment with them, but neces- cessary, or not necessary at all (though I myself sity presses upon necessity, and one by one, they wish to be understood as partially approving of it), give up the enjoyments which they hitherto de--or proposes reduction of the staff of the army, lighted to indulge themselves in. This is evident to or a curtailment of the great sums disbursing for every person who will look at society. The labor- fortifications, at this season of pressure, he stands ing people cannot get much money, and therefore forth as an enemy to the army. If a third (regard cannot spend much. The average price of wheat is less of the school which it affords), was to declare hardly more than fifty cents per bushel--and the that it would be better for us if the mouth of the farmer cannot buy many luxuries at that rate: a Mediterranean sea were damned up, than that such mechanic is hardly half his time employed, or at re- heavy squadron should be kept within it, or sug duced wages, and must therefore limit his expendi-gest that, the navy having uearly reached the point of tures. It appears to me probable that from 20 to strength, as to heavy ships, at which public opinion 40,000 able laborers are now thrown from the me- seems long since to have fixed it, saying also that chanical into the agricultural classes per annum, the navy grows top fast for our commerce from from the diminished demand for their several kinds whence seamen are to be derived, and was to intimate of work: we should not regret this if the products the propriety of suspending the annual appropriaof agriculture had a profitable market-but the in- tion for its increase, he might be thought hostile to crease of the quantity raised, has only had effect to the navy-and so on with every branch of expendireduce the price and lessen the means of the regu- ture. If congress would investigate the state of aclar agriculturalists. --I speak of those in what may counts of any department, it is indelicate to do more be called the grain-growing countries, to whom a than to receive politely such statements as the head combination of the three great branches of national of it may be pleased to give. A chairman of one industry seem indispensably necessary. These peo- of the committees for this purpose (one of my ple cannot any longer use highly taxed articles-- friends and a gentleman that I really esteem), told they will purchase coarser and stronger goods for me that when he entered a certain office to look clothing, and wear them clothes longer than they at the accounts, he felt it necessary to say "he did used to do. The workmen must put on heavy not come as a spy," that he might the more easily aprons to preserve their articles of dress, such as ascertain some things which he wished to know. they wore a little ago, but which of late years were In making this remark, my friend forgot his own almost wholly cast aside, through the progress of dignity, and I told him so when he related the anec. luxury; and the women resume their nice and com.dote to me, at Washington. Now it is a fact that fortable linsey gowns and petticoats. I speak thus that every one may understand me; that every one may see for himself, what has been and must be the operation of things. These circumstances are exceedingly hostile to the revenue, as at present chiefly derived, and must more and more reduce its amount. We must recollect that potatoes may be dear at one cent per bushel, and cheap at a dollar. It is the means of payment that gives the comparative value, whether a thing is dear or cheap. And there is hardly a laboring man who would not rejoice to hear that, by a foreign demand, our flour and meal had risen to double its present price-because he would instantly anticipate profitable employment, and a better ability to purchase it. these things are true, and I presume that no person will deny them. I do not attribute them to corruption, CORRUPTION, as some lustily cry out. Certainly, I do not believe that the men in power are "angels," but, perhaps, there is as much private honor and honesty among them as in others who talk so loudly about them: but the fashion of things is wrong-that direct responsibility which used to be held as essential to the public good has been lost sight of, and the frankness with which the represen tatives of the people formerly acted, no longer exists. The case of gen. Jackson is a memorable proof of my assertion-whether he did right or wrong in the Seminole war, is nothing to the purpose-congress had no power to punish him, nay, did not even With these prospects a-head, what shall we do? propose it, his doings were sanctioned by the exe-retrench the public expenses so as to meet thecutive: yet 100,000 dollars, perhaps, were lost to revenue, or raise the revenue by internal taxation, that it may be adequate to the expenses? We must do one or the other, or something as to both, and speedily-for we have heavy debts to pay before long. The work of retrenchment is always an ungrateful task, and especially so of public men as to public men and affairs. And we know that in the not pay him for them. I myself represent 700,000 dollars, which, if the claims were my own, I would take ten cents in the dollar for, or less. Therefore, do not quarrel with John for sending you goods so freely, until you pay him for them!" This is a true story, without the least embellishment. the nation by the speeches and proceedings on his case, when, if there was any thing to blame, it should have been laid directly on the president himself. The work of private economy is forcing itself on, and a retrenchment of the public expenses must follow-let us return to the plainness and simplicity that prevailed only twenty years ago, so far as the nature of things will admit it, without the destruction of those establishments which it cost us so much to build up during the late war, or an interfer. ence with indispensable preparations for a time when our peace may be interrupted. Every body should unite in this. At the next session of congress, something will probably be done to relieve us of indifference and apathy-if not, there must be another political revolution, like that of 1801. For surely the people will not permit the government to go on borrowing money in a season of peace. public debt, at the several periods at which the Extract from the report dated November 23, 1818— To conclude-The writer of this has always believed that a nation could not be prosperous and happy, if the laboring classes were depressed and miserable; and especially so in a republic, like the United States. He has warmly advocated the encouragement of domestic industry, no matter to what object it might be applied, and ever been friendly to internal improvements to aid it. Hence, "The extent to which the payments into the trea. to occupy the surplus labor of our country, he was sury, during the year 1819, will be affected by the friendly to the general principles of Mr. Baldwin's general pressure upon the community, which has bill respecting the tariff, though not satisfied with been described, and which is the inevitable conseits details, because he believed that they went fur-quence of the over-trading of the banks, and the ther than was necessary or proper, at this time. exportation of specie to the East Indies, aggravated This bill failed in the senate, and perhaps it is well by the temporary failure of the ordinary supply of that it did; for if it had succeeded, all the evils of the precious metals from the Spanish American these times with the deficiency in the revenue, mines, cannot at this time be correctly appreciated. would have been attributed to it. The experience Should it exceed what has been contemplated in afforded may be permanently useful, and bring this report, the appropriations must be diminished, about the establishment of a system as to the reve-the revenue enlarged by new impositions, or temnue which shall equalize the burthen of taxation on porary loans authorized to meet the deficiency. As the different classes. At present, it is partial and the expenditure of the year 1820 will be greatly unjust, and was chiefly paid by those least able to reduced by the irredeemable quality of the public contribute to the support of government. A plan debt, after the redemption of the remaining moiety must be adopted by which every citizen shall be re- of the Louisiana stock, which may be effected on quired to pay taxes according to his means, which the 21st day of October, 1819, a resort to temporary cannot be accomplished by a duty on imports, a loans, or to the issue of treasury notes, to the amount of land tax, on an excise or excises; but must result the deficiency, should any occur, is believed to be prefrom a judicious selection of various objects of tax-ferable to the imposition of new taxes, which would nos ation, the base of which should be a land tax, a tax upon property; after which we should tax luxuries, then conveniences-and if these are not sufficient, proceed to absolute necessaries. At present, property pays no tax at all-and the mass of the revenue is derived from duties on articles which may be regarded as conveniences or necessaries; the poorer classes therefore, pay an undue proportion to government, though liable to be called out to defend property, which is altogether exempted. NOTE. We have said that the "financial matters of the government, as well by congress or otherwise, ap. pear to have rested on the chapter of accidents:" take the following extracts from the several annual reports of the secretary of the, treasury in justification of what I have said: be required after that year."[-1819] [Here the secretary begins to talk of "new taxes or loans," but only wants them for one year.] Extract from the report dated December 10, 1819– See vol. XVII. p. 260. After suggesting an invasion on the sinking fund, which by the extract from the report of 1817, was so handsomely to redeem the great debts which will be payable in 1825, &c. the secretary concludes as follows: tained by the sale of stock of that description; or it may be obtained by the issue of treasury notes. If the revenue and expenditure shall be equalized, the issue of treasury notes, not bearing interest, is recommended in preference to the creation or sale of stock, as the loan, in that event, will be small in amount, and temporary in its nature." "Whether the revenue be augmented, or the expenditure be diminished, a loan to some extent will be necessary. The augmentation of the one or the diminution of the other, cannot be effected in sufficient time to prevent this necessity. As the six per cent. stock of the United States is considerably above par, the sum required to be raised by Extract from Mr. Crawford's report, dated Decem-loan can be conveniently and advantageously ob. ber 5, 1817-See W. REGISTER, vol. XIII, p. 243. "After the redemption of the Louisiana stock, there is no part of the principal of the public debt redeemable at the will of the government until the 1st day of January, 1825, except the five per cent. stock subscribed to the bank of the United States. As the commissioners of the sinking fund are not authorized to redeem the five per cent. stock, the [Well-and congress snatched up the whole surpermanent annual appropriation of 10,000,000 of plus of the sinking fund, and also passed a law to dollars, from the year 1819 to 1825, under the ex-authorize a loan of three millions of dollars. What isting laws, can only be applied to the payment of next?— -But it is equitable to add, that the prodi the interest of the public debt, and to the gradual gality of appropriation—the pell mell, helter skel. reimbursement of the principal of the six per cent. ter manner in which bills for expending millions deferred stock; and will leave during that period, were passed, has contributed much to the present an annual surplus of nearly five millions of dollars. disgraceful state of things. If I had leisure to col During the year 1825, the exchanged six per lect the facts, I think that I could demonstrate it, cent. stock, the six per cent. of 1812, and the stock that more time of congress has been consumed created by funding treasury notes, amounting to about "Amy Darden's stud horse," than was spent gether to 18,895,456 23, will be redeemable. To on new appropriations since 1815, which have cost, the redemption of the whole of this stock within or will cost us more than twenty millions of dol that year, the sinking fund by the aid of its sur-lars. For congress, like the customers of a new bank, pluses, will not only be entirely adequate, but will thought they had nothing to do but to find uses for be amply sufficient to redeem the remainder of the money.] Lycurgan Society. At a meeting of the Lycurgan society of Yale college, held August 9th, 1820, on the recommendation of a committee of the society, composed of members from the different states in the union gantine Williams, on a passage from Buenos Ayres to this port, round Cape Horn, in lat. 61, 40, south, discovered land. When he arrived here, he reported what he had seen, but most persons were incredulous. Mortified by this scepticism, upon his return passage to Montevideo, he sailed to the southward to ascertain whether he had been deceived or Resolved, That extravagance in the articles of dress, is inconsistent with the republican principles of our government, and an evil which at the present not; but meeting bad weather, and encountering time threatens its interests. It is, therefore, the ice, he was obliged to desist and prosecute his voyduty of every friend of his country, to afford his as-age; yet without abandoning his original intention or losing his sanguine belief in the existence of sistance in opposing its alarming progress. Resolved, That it is the peculiar duty of the mem- land in that neighborhood. In Montevideo, he prebers of our colleges, and a debt of gratitude they pared his vessel rather better than common, and owe their country for the distinguished privileges proceeded a second time round the Cape, towards which she has conferred upon them, to exert their Valparaiso, and, on the 15th of October, was gratiinfluence in the accomplishment of so laudable an fied by a second sight of the same land he had seen before. The water was then high coloured, object. and he sounded in sixty-five fathoms, black and white sand and shells. The soundings gradually decreased to twenty-five fathoms and less, but coarser, and of an oozy greenish color, as he approached the shore. Resolved, That we disapprove of extravagance in dress and luxurious indulgencies in our seminaries of learning at the present time: especially do we disapprove of them in the institution with which we are connected. Captain Smith was obliged to stand off and on, by Resolved, That, to reduce the expense of clothing, and prevent the evils arising from the conti- a heavy swell, until the 17th ultimo, when he landnual fluctuations of fashion, we adopt an uniformed in latitude 64, 43, south, and 57, 10, west longidress, to be hereafter worn by the members of this tude, by observation and an excellent chronometer. Here he saw many seals, sea lions, whales and society. sea fowls all perfectly fearless and unacquainted with danger. Resolved, That to promote industry in our country, and to promote American manufactures, we wear cloth exclusively of domestic manufacture. Resolved, That these resolutions be signed by the committee, who are instructed to describe our dress, for the benefit of those who may hereafter become members of this institution; and that the same be published in the newspapers. Committee-George E. Adams, Maine; A. L. Alexander, Georgia; Charles Atwood, Massachusetts; Edward F. Barnes, Mississippi; P. W. Chase, New-Hampshire; Asa Child, Connecticut; J. P. Jones, Delaware; Thos. P. Little, North Caroina; Wm B. McCullough, New Jersey; George W. Peter, District of Columbia; Edward E. Phelps, Vermont, George Sheaff, Pennsylvania; Edward A. Strong, New York; W. S. Sullivan, Ohio; Landon A. Tho mas, Kentucky, Edmond B. Yass, Virginia; Thomas J. Young, South Carolina. Description of the dress-A coatee, or short coat, and pantaloons, of dark domestic cloth, black and made white mixture, denominated iron grey, agreeable to the present fashion in every respect, except that the coatee is single breasted, with a small pointed lappel; the pockets on the outside of the skirt, with a small scalloped welt. Yale college, New Haven, August 25. Southern Continent. FROM THE NEW YORK COLUMBIAN, By the favor of doctor Mitchell, we are enabled to lay before our readers the following very interesting letter from J. Robinson, esq. The magnitude of the discovery will not fail to arrest the attention of every one, and the surprise is, that such an extent of ocean and so situated should not before have been generally known. It is said, however, to have been discovered some years since by some American whalers, and the knowledge concealed for mercantile purposes. Valparaiso, Jan. 23. 1820. SIR-I avail myself of an opportunity to write by the way of England, to notify you of a recent important discovery of laud in the south seas. In the month of February, of the current year, captain Smith, master of the British merchant bri This land he calls a continent, and gave it the name of New South Britain, upon which he hoisted the British flag. On the north coast of this land there is a chain or line of islands, from two to ten miles distant from the main, to which he gave the name of Penguin Islands. Between these islands and the main land, there is a kind of channel, from two to ten miles wide, with some current-and in one place an appearance of breakers, produced probably by a narrow passage and sunken rocks. The passage there is not more than a mile wide, but captain Smith did not explore it. Captain Smith coasted to the west and west by south, sometimes inside of the islands, at others between them and the main, to the latitude of 630 53' south-longitude 64 west; the wind then blowing from the south west, he took his departure and steered from the land north west by west, when it bore south and west, as far as could be discerned with good glasses, and with every appearance of its extending further. He describes the whole of this land, both the main and the islands, as being very high, even above the clouds, and the summits as having been covered with snow, and with generally a sterile, barren aspect, but with some indications of vegetation, shrubbery and wood, in the vallies and apertures of the hills and mountains, and likewise with rivers and creeks. He stretched along this coast, three hundred miles, with generally cool, pleasant weather, but not having been properly provided with boats, he did not attempt to reland, notwithstanding he saw fine bays and sandy beeches. Capt. Smith saw many fish of all colors and sizes, and different denominations. The most remarkable resembled the cod fish of Cape Augully Bank, and the Isle Juan Fernandez. The whales were like those of Hudson Bay and Davis' Straits. Besides these, he saw a species of white whale and black fish. The soundings, or rather the matter drawn up with the lead, at each cast, are preserved. I have seen them, and likewise a draught of the land, by a good hand. Capt. Sheriff, the commander of the |