POETRY.

THE LIGHT AT HOME,

SELECTED.

The light at home! how bright it beams
When evening shades around us fall;
And from the lattice far it gleams,
To love, and rest, and comfort all;
When wearied with the toils of day,

And strife for glory, gold or fame,
How sweet to seek the quiet way'

Where loving lips will lisp our name,
Around the light at home!

When through the dark and stormy night.
The wayward wanderer homeward flies,
llow cheering is that twinkling light,
Which through the forest gloom he spies!
It is the light of home. He feels

That loving hearts will greet him there,
And safely through his bosom steals
The joy and love that banish care
Around the light at home.

The light at home! how still and sweet
It peeps from yonder cottage door-
The weary laborer to greet-

When the rough toils of day are o'er!
Sad is the soul that does not know

The blessings that the beams impart, The cheerful hopes and joys that flow, And lightens up the heaviest heart, Around the light at home.

"LET ME DIE QUIETLY."

THE HOUSEHOLD.

by grosser sounds. A far off music comes
floating to it by the air. "Tis the sound
HOW TO AVOID DISEASE.-The great
of the heavenly harps touched by viewless
thing, then to do in order to ward off seri-
fingers-mar not the harmony by the dis
ous disease, (and sickness never comes
cord of earth.
without a friendly premonition in the dis-
"Let me die quietly!" The commo-tance, only that in our stupidity or heed-
tion of life, the struggles of ambition, the
lessness, we often fail to make a note of it,)
strife and warring with human destiny is simply to observe three things:

1. The instant we become conscious of

any unpleasfnt sensation in the body, cease eating absolutely.

2. Keep warm.
3. Be still.

These are applicable and safe in all cases; sometimes a more speedy result is ob

hours.-Dr. Hall.

are over. Wealth accumulated must be
scattered; honors won must be resigned;
and all the triumphs that come within the
range of human achievements must be
thrown away. The past, with its trials,
its accumulating responsibilities, its cling-
ing memories, its vanished hopes, is ren-
dering up to the future its long acount-
disturb not the quiet of that awful reckon-tained, if instead of being quiet, the pa-
ing. Speak not of fading memories of af. tient would, by moderate, steady exercise,
fections whose objects, perish in their love- keep up a general perspiration for several
liness, like the flowers of spring, or with-
TRANSPARENT WINDOW SHADES.-Cut
er in a slow decay. Talk not of an earth-
India-rubber in small pieces, put in an
ly home where loved ones linger, where a
seat will be yacant, a cherished voice hush- earthern vessel, cover with spirits turpen-
ed forever, or of the desolation that will fine; let it stand, stirring occasionally un-
seat itself by the hearthstone. The soul til is becomes a jelly; then thin with oil,
such as is used for painting, and boil in an
is at peace with God: let it pass calmly
iron vessel. When nearly cool, apply
away. Heaven is opening upon its vision.
The bright turrets, and the lofty domes of with a brush to your cloth, which should
the Eternal City, are emerging from the be bleached and tacked smoothly and
spectral darkness, and the glory of the tightly on frames the size you wish your
Most High is drawing around them. The curtains. Dry in the shade. When dry
White Throne is glistening in the dis-you can trace with a pencil any design
you please, and paint with oil paint. A
tance, and the white robed angels are
small landscape, surrounded by a wreath
beckoning the weary spirit to its everlast-
tng home. What is life that it should be of flowers is pretty. This is also a good
clung to longer? What the joys of the way to make oil cloths for stands, door-
world that they should be regretted? ways, and carpet preservers around stoves,
taking thick cloth.
What has earth to place before the spirit
of a man to tempt its stay, or turn it from

Be still-make no noise-let me die quietly.
[VICE PRESIDENT KING.
"Be still!" The hour of the soul's de-
parture is at hand. Earth is fading from
its vision; Time is gliding from its pres-
ence! Hopes that cluster around young
life, that swell in the bosom of manhood,
have fallen from around it like the forest
leaves, when the frosts of autumn have its eternal rest?

chilled them unto death. Ambition, LONGEVITY. Some of the paper are re-
with its hollow promises, and Pride, with
its lofty look, have vanished away. The
world, with its deceitfulness. pleasure
with its gilded temptations are gone; and
alone in utter destitution of all that time
promised, it must start on its solemn jour-
ney across the Valley of the Shadow of

porting the number of old persons ascertained by the census still living in many of the smaller towns in this State. The writer met this morning on Main street, one of three men now living in this city, born in the Fall of 1776-7. They were schoolboys together, and will all enter on their eighty-fifth year within the next four months, and have always resided in New London. One of them commanded returnless flight. Trouble it not with the another can tell us of heroic exploits as a ship from this port 62 years ago, and

Death!

"Make no noise?" Let the tumult of life cease. Let no sound break the soul's communion with itself ere it starts on its

accents of sorrow. Let the tears stand still on the cheek of affliction; and let not the wailing of grief break the solemn silence of the death scene. Let it gather the accents that come within the dark shadows of eternity, saying to it, "Come home!" The whisperings of angels are in its ears; obstruct not their silvery voices

KEEPING CIDER SWEET.—Take a bar

rel that will not leak in the sides, with bottom in and top out, bore holes in the bottom that there will be no trouble in the escapement of the cider, Now take & doubled piece of flannel and lay on the bottom neatly, that no sand can run through. Place a layer of sand thereon, to about the depth of six inches, and pulverize charcoal and make a very thin layer, then another layer of sand of the same depth, again another layer of charcoal, the last, a heavier layer of sand. This barrel of sand and charcoal is to set over a cess of cleansing now commences. Draw tub which the cider can run in. The profrom your cider barrel and pour on the sand &c., taking care not to stir up the sand We have older men in this and other much, rack the whole through, putting towns, but can any place show three other therectifiedc ider into another sweet barrel or women of eighty four years who in which, afterward, put a pint of mustard were born and have ever lived in the same seed, and your cider is fit for any compaplace, and were school children together.-ny, Too much charcoal is a damage, as Chronicle. it colors it.-Rural New Yorker.

master of a New York packet in the last
war with Great Britain.

men

REGISTER OF METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS, AT EAST NEW LONDON,
FOR THE WEEK ENDING SATURDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1860. REPORTED BY H. E. CHITTY.

HORTICULTURAL.

THE AMERICAN POMOLOGICAL

SOCIETY.

The eighth Fiennial session of this Society opened at Philadelphia on the 11th of September, and continued three days. The morning session was occupied chiefly in organizing, and appointing a nominating committee. In the afternoon, the President Marshall P. Wilder, Esq., delivered his address. At the close of the address the nominating committee reported, and the officers were elected, President, M. P. Wilder, of Boston. Treasurer, T. P. James, of Philadelphia. Secretary, Thomas W. Field, of Brooklyn, L. I.

General remarks, observations, &c. &c.

Chilly.
Cold rain.

Heavy thunder storm.
Plesaant at night.
Dull and showery.
Showery.

Chilly winds.

Willow Twig, Limber Twig, Bonum, | ken of by Messrs, Hooker and Prince, bu Stansill, White Pippin, Pryor's Red, Kes- others seemed to think little of it. Pauwick Codlin, Rawles' Jeanette. Maiden's line was recommended by several SouthBlush, Pomme Royal, Summer Queen. ern members as a fine grape. The Massachusetts White met with little favor from anybody. Allen's Hybrid was spoken of by several, and the merits of the Anna, Ontario, Roger's Seedling, and others were freely discussed. The Delaware met with encomiums more or less warm, on all hands.

The Currant was next taken up, and a warm discussion ensued in regard to the merits of the Cherry. Messrs. Wilder, Downing, Hovey, Lawton, and others spoke of it as being excessively acid, and destitute of flavor; while Messrs. Barry, Hooker, Warder, and others spoke in its favor; and it was finally left on the list, to which were added, the Versailles, Fertile d'Angers, and Imperial Jaune, a new French variety.

Strawberries were next taken up,
and interesting discussion followed, in
Tho session just closed lost some of its which the opinion was expressed that a
interest from the fact that the list for gen-distinction should be made between the
eral cultivation was not touched, the Pres-
foreign varieties; that while those from
England had almost invariably proved ill
adapted to our climate, those from France
and Belgium had on the contrary, proved

ident having recommended that the duty
of revising this list should be referred to
special and local committees, to report at
the next meeting. This we regard as the
most important step yet taken by the So-very promising, as instances of which the
ciety. If these committees shall faithful-
ly perform their duties, something will at
last have been done worthy of a national
Pomological Society. We purpose help-
ing these gentlemen by and by. Their
labors will be of the most onerous kind,
but we hope they will not flinch from

them.

The discussions which followed were

Triomphe de Gand and others were men-
tioned. The Triomphe de Gand was spo-
ken well of by everybody, and this and
Jenny Lird were added to the list.

On Grape-culture a great variety of opinions were expressed, each man seeming to have a system of his own. On some points, however, there was much unanimity, and some particulars were elicited in regard to trenching, manuring, etc.

Pear Culture, however, brought out a greater variety of opinions than any other subject; some of them indeed, curious enough. One gentleman thought moisture had more to do with the growth of plants than manure, the impression being that manure was of no consequence where moisture was abundant. Our reporter may have failed to catch his idea. Dr, Boynton gave some lengthened remarks on his mode of using manures for the pear, including a number of salts, by the use of which he claimed to have given his pears a high color and glossy appearance.

Raspberries were next in order. The Allen after a warm discussion, was placed on the list of the rejected fruit. The Belle de Fontenay was placed on the list which promises well, and the Hornet was well The Treasurer reported a balance on rambling and discursive, but some inter-spoken of. The Purple Cane or Ameri- hand in 1858, $258,94; received Septemesting facts were brought out. We find it can Red was highly commended by Mr. ber, 1860, $357; the total amount of exDowning. penditures $418,30; leaving a balance of necessary to condense our reporter's reGooseberries. The Downing was added $97,64 in the treasury. marks, to the list.

list.

An amendment was made to the constitution, reducing the life-membership fee Blackberries were brought up, several from twenty to ten dollars. The discus- new kinds spoken of, such as the Grape, sions were then begun, the first in order | Parsley-leaved, etc., but none added to the being the Apple. It will be remembered that the list for general cultivation was Grapes. This subject proved the most not brought up at any time, the discus-interesting brought before the Society. sion being confined to varieties which The Taylor and Maxatawny were added promise well. The leading members hav- to the list. The Clara was thought too ing expressed their opinious, the following tender for out-door culture. The To Kawere added to the list of apples which lon was said to mildew and rot badly in promise well: Summer Sweet, Paradise, some localities, but was thought good Canon, Pearmain, Fall Wine, Early Joe, when perfect. The Clinton was well spo

The Standing Dommittees were announced by the Chair, which we shall publish as soon as we can get them. Boston was selected as the place for holding the next meeting.

The following resolution was passed:Resolved, That the thanks of this Society are tendered to Mr. T. P. James, Mr. J. C. Mitchell, and Mr. Wm, Saunders, the committee of arrangements for the meetings of the Society, for the excellent accommodations and polite attention which its members have enjoyed.

Bank of South County, Wakefield... $2.25 Bank of the Republic, Providence...

DEVOTED TO THE CAUSE OF TRUTH, VIRTUE, AND GENERAL INTELLIGENCE.

NEW-LONDON, CT.

Thursday, October 18, 1860.

THE HARVEST ÓF THE HEART. subsequently distributed among nephews

Life hath its seasons:

And Time on a chariot of hours,

Rolls to Eternity's gate

Adown a dim valley, where flowers.
Bereft of their beauty,

Lie withered and scattered by Fate.

Hearts have their harvests:
And Sorrow goes after the reapers
To mildew the yellowing grain;
While Pity, in tears,
Stands watching the laboring weepers,
Go reaping a harvest of pain.

Youth is the Seed-time :-
The season of sunshine and showers,
That nurtures the delicate germ
Which, in Life's autumn,
Will bring to our bosoms sweet flowers,
Or thorns and a cankering worm,

GOD's is the Harvest :-
Whose sickle by Mercy is wielded

Among the ripe grain and the tares;
Unto His garner

The sheaves of the gleaner are yielded,
With Harvest Home anthems and prayers.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

NUMBER TEN.

COLLECTORS OF THE PORT OF NEW LON-
DON, BEFORE THE REVOLUTION.

BY F. M. C.

The first Collector of the port of whom any notice has been obtained was John Shackmaple, who died in 1743. He was but 35 years of age, and it may be conjectured that his father, whose name first appears on the New London records about the year 1710, held the office before him.

Joseph Hull was probably the successor of the two Shackmaples and continued in office, perhaps 20 years. He amassed a considerable property in New London, being the owner of several farms, together with various houses and house lots in the town plot. He died after 1760, leaving apparently no family, as his property was

and nieces living in Rhode Island and
North Carolina.

In 1762, Capt. Thomas Oliver, was ap-
pointed Collector of the port and District
of New London. He continued in office
but a short period and his subsequent his-
tory is not known, except that he made
his will in 1770 at New London, where it
was proved many years afterward. He
owned a valuable lot upon Town Hill
which was confiscated during the revolu-
tion.

ONE DOLLAR A YEAR
No. 35.

have been located in that part of the town,
but it must be remembered that the Cove,
was then the seat of the principal mercan-
tile business of the town. The wharves
and ware-houses were all north of the Pa-
rade.

Mr. Stewart lived in free, hospitable style. Those were the days when cards, clubs, game-dinners and tripe-suppers were in vogue, and Mr. Stewart's house was one of the gathering places of the gay men of that period. He seemed also to take a lively interest in the prosperity of the place; contributed liberally to the Episcopal church and was one of the orig

School. In a M.S., letter of Nathaniel Shaw Esq., to the Messrs Wharton, his business correspondents in Philadelphia, he requests them to engage and send on some German servants for Mr. Stewart, the Collector, of whom he thus speaks :

The last of the royal custom house offi cers in New London was Duncan Stewart. He received the appointment of "Collec-inal founders and proprietors of the Union tor of his Majesty's Customs for the port and district of New London," early in the year 1764, and sailed from Portsmouth, Eng., in June, in the frigate Essex. Meeting with very tempestuous weather, the vessel was driven out of her course, and having sprung a leak, was compelled to put into Lisbon harbor. From this place Mr. Stewart took passage in a brig to New York, and from thence came iminediately to New London, where he arrived, Sept 21, 1764.

---

"I should be very glad if you could get him three such servants to suit him, for I really think him to be as good a man as any that belongs to the Revenue. His motive ir sending for them is, that he has a great aversion to negroes and the white servants about here have too many connections."

The New London District then included the whole Colony of Connecticut: vessels from Hartford, Middletown, New Immediately after the battle of LexHaven. all cleared from this port. Mr. ington, Mr. Stewart became a prisoner, Stewart was a popular officer and assimi- so far as to be placed under watch and lated readily with the people and customis guard to prevent all communication with of the country. He married in Boston, the royal party. In general, he was alNancy, youngest daughter of John Er-lowed the liberty of the town, on his ving, Esq., January, 6, 1767, pledge to keep within its bounds, but such headstone in our old Burial Ground is dedicated to the memory of one of their children removed by death in early infancy: "Isabella, daughter of Duncan and Anne Stewart, died April 17, 1770."

A small

Mr. Stewart lived in Main Street, with the Custom House a little in the rear of his dwelling. Both buildings were originally erected by Robert Sloan a former merchant of New London, and were destroyed in the conflagration of Sept 6, 1781. The mauufactnring establishment of Albertson and Douglass now occupies the site. It may seem strange at the present day that the Custom House should

was the violence of the populace in those days of strife and embittered feeling, that he could not appear in the streets without being pursued by a mob and subjected to insult. Once on the arrival of some goods from New York, which he had been per. mitted to receive for the use of his family, a lawless throng gathered at the wharf to prevent their being landed. They were balked in this attempt, but seized them afterwards, set fire to them, and in the midst of noise and tumult they were consumed in a public bonfire. The ring. leaders were indeed arrested and imprisoned, but they were forcibly released by

another mob, and allowed to go unscath- THE REPOSITORY vania, Kentucky and Virginia, some ex

ed.

By the regular authorities of the town and state, Mr. Stewart was uniformly treated with kindness and liberality. In the autum of 1776, he was permitted to go to New York on parole for three months, and in June, 1777, he obtained leave from the State authorities to return to England. The sloop Union, came from New York with a flag of truce to convey his family and effects thither, from whence he was to take passage immediately for London, having a passport which covered his family, his furniture, two servants, and "one milch cow for the benefit of the children on the voyage."

NEW-LONDON, CONN.

BY W. H. STARR.
Thursday, October 18. 1860.

THE COAL OIL BUSINESS.

traordinary experiments were undertaken, by persons whose desire to learn all about the art was at that time only equalled by their ignorance of chemical manipulations. The process of distillation would be occasionally directed by the village apothecary,

Like most of the useful inventions and under the superintendence ot the coal land discoveries of the present day, the extrac-owner, both in turn overlooked by the tion of a cheap and safe illuminator from capitalist of the county, who varied his coal and other bituminous substances, has scientific labors by demolishing the stateattained its present development, through ments and calculations of his companions. the long and patient labors of the chemists Frequently the glass retorts used would of this country and of Europe. The abun- burst from being overcharged, and sprindance of the raw materials, cannel coal, kle the party with creosote or carbonic acbitumen, and petroleum in the United id, which is found in the crude oil distilled States, naturally caused a greater expendi- from coal. In one mining district, where the writer was employed in building a coal distillery, the people planted corn in great quantities, under the impression that it would bring a good price at the works; they not believing that oil could be made from "stone coal," as they called it, but supposing the statement was made to prevent their ministers from denouncing the concern as a whiskey distillery.

other country. In 1853 the manufacture
was first commenced in America by a
New York company, working under the
Kerosene" patents which were granted
to a chemist of New York.

The question is often asked, what be-ture of skill and capital here than in any came of the Colonial Custom House records of this port? No positive answer can be given, as there does not appear to be any actual testimony upon the subject. Three conjectures may be admissible, viz., that the state took possession of them af- One of our cotemporaries states that in ter the Declaration of Independence; 1855, after the new oil had in some degree that Mr. Stewart carried them with him overcome the prejudices of the people and to England; that they were left in the the opposition of those interested in the Custom House and consumed in the build-manufacture of camphene and burning ing. The last supposition is the most probable, for were they still extant, in the course of 80 years some trace of them would probably have been discovered.

Although the first coal oils manufactured were inferior to those of the present time, fluid, the owners of deposits of cannel coal, they soon came into use for burning and which is found in many parts of the Alle-lubrication, principally for the former purghany coal field, began to erect works for its manufacture. The raw material up to that time had been imported from the British provinces and Scotland. In most cases the business proved unremunerative, from the fact that the art was a new one,

The office of Controller of the Customs appears to have been distinct from that of Collector. This office was held for a considerable term of years, under Hull, Oli-and the data for its suceessful prosecution ver and Stewart, by Dr. Thomas Moffatt, an English physician and surgeon. During the vacancies that had occurred in the collectorship, he had acted as collector. He practised also as a physician in the place, and was highly esteemed in that capacity. He appears to have withdrawn from town suddenly, on the first rumor of the approaching conflict, leaving his effects behind, Mr. Stewart at first obtained permission to take the goods of Dr. Moffat with his own to London, but the order was countermanded, a representation being made to the government that he had left the country in a hostile spirit and had since been in arms against her. His effects were therefore confiscated and sold by the select men, 20th of April 1778.The advertisement states that they consisted of a valuable collection of books, some drugs and medicines, an anatomy, and a quantity of household furniture.

were only to be obtained by experience.The mystery which was about the art served to excite the desire of many persons to attempt its prosecution, and with every accession to the ranks of coal oil amateurs, the statement made of the astonishing results of their experiments only intensified the excitement upon the subject. The yield of marketable oil from one ton of cannel coal, averaging twenty gallons in the Western coal fields, was stated to be one hundred gallons and one hundred and fifty gallons, and the profits of the business were calculated from that enormous yield, far beyond that of the purest bitumen, which yields rarely more than seventy-five gallous per ton. A coal oil fever, which has been compared to the "morus multicaulis" mania,, seemed to fasten upon all who attempted to experiment in making oil; material for some very laughable farces abound in the experiences of the pioneer Dr. Moffat died in London in the year coal oil manufacturers. In the log cabins of the mining distircts of Ohio, Pennsyl

1787.

pose, however. The following list comprises most of the companies and firms manufacturing coal oil, not more than ten of whom were in operation prior to 1856:

COAL OIL COMPANIES AND FIRMS, 1860. Aladdin Co., Kiskiminitas, Pa.; Atlantic Co., New York; Adair & Veeder, Pittsburgh, Pa.; Ander

son, Darlington, Pa.; Breckinridge Co., Cloverport. Ky.; Boston & Portland Co., Boston; Beloni Co., New York; Brooks, Zanesville, O.; Covington Co., Covington, Ky.; Cox, Zanesville, O.; Carbon Co Co., Now York; Downer & Co., Boston; Dean, New York; Cornell & Co., Canfield, O.; Clough & Cleveland; Empire State Co., New York; Excelsior Co,, New York; Eureka Co., New York; East Cambridge Co.. East Cambridge, Mass.; Enon Valley Co., Enon Valley. Pa.; Franklin Co., New York; Forest Hilt Co., Kananha, Va.; Falling Rock Co., Kananha, Va.; Great Western Co., Newark, O. Greers, Kananha, Va; Great Kananha Co., Kanan; ha, Va.; Grasselli, Cincinnati; Glendon Co,, BosCo., Ceshocton, O.; Knickerbocker Co., New York; ton; Hartford Co., Hartford, Ct.; Himebaugh & Keystone Co., Preston county, Va.; Long Island Co, New York; Lucesco Co., Kiskiminitas, Pa,; New York nd Wheeling Co., Wheeling, Va.; New BedCo., New Galilee, Pa; Orion Co., New York; Finkford Co., New Bedford, Mass.; New York Coal Oil ham, Boston; Peasley, Boston; Page & Co., Boston; Pictou Co., New York; Palestine Co., Palestine, Pa.; Phoenix Co., Cincinnati, O.; Preston Co., Preston county, Va.; Robinson & Co., Perry county, G.; Ritchie Co., (bitumen,) Ritchie county, Va.; Sherwood, Canfield, O.; Stanton, Kananha, Va.; Ky.; White Day Co., Monangalia county, Va. Stamford Co., Stamford, Ct.; Union Co., Maysville, Western Co, Cincinnati, O.; Zephyr Co., New York.

Total 57.

of small coal oil works in Philadelphia, There are, besides the above, a number Baltimore, and the western cities, owned by individuals.

estimated to be thirty thousand gallons per The quantity of coal oil produced is