THIRD SERIES. No.1-VOL. I.]

BALTIMORE, SEPT. 6, 1823.

THE PAST-THE PRISENT-FOR THE FUTURE.

[VOL. XXV. WHOLE NO. 625.

EDITED AND PUBLISHED BY H. MILES, AT $5 PIR AXXUM, PAYABLE IN ADVANCE.

By arrivals at N. York, London papers, to the evening of the 23d of July, have been received. We have briefly noticed the chief things stated under the proper heads-see page 7.

me from the beginning, and without even yet manifesting any disposition, by neglect or otherwise, that they have become weary of the REGISTER; and also to express the gratitude felt for the liberality If the French accounts could be believed, it of others, who have zealously supported and sub. would appear that the war was just at a close. They stantially encouraged, perseverance in this publi speak of desertions of the constitutionalists by hun cation-and, without the generous aid of all these, dreds and thousands at a time: of whole regiments without that degree of punctuality which has mark. coming over to them. They say that Cadiz must falled the conduct of many, it is certain that this work immediately; that Barcelona is disaffected and will must have followed the course of all its predecessoon be taken, that Mina's force is nearly dissolved, sors of a similar character, and of all its rivals; but and these who composed the late army of Ballaste it stands alone, and a statement of the fact shews ros, are said to be dispersed in every direction; that that the obligations which mutually existed be the people, every where, were attached to the tween the editor and his subscribers, have been cause of the king. But, if these things are true, pretty well complied with. The disbursements, why are 40,000 additional troops marching for Spain however, for the support of this establishment, in -why is the great park of heavy artillery from one way or another, are about $7,000 a year-a Toulouse now on its way to carry on the sieges of very serious sum to be raised in "these hard times," St. Sebastian, Pampeluna and Santona? It is evident the general pressure of which, together with the that the French do not believe what they them-inattention of some, has oftentimes placed me in selves say their conduct falsifies their expressions. a most unpleasant and irksome, and, perhaps, I There are many circumstances to afford us pleasant may say also, unmerited condition; yet the product prospects of the success of the Spaniards, and in of this establishment ought to render its editor as that success to believe that there will be an exten. independent in regard to money matters, as he is in sive re action in several nations. French gold has his manner of conducting the work. However, redone more in Spain than the arms of France. They lying on the usual prompt and efficient aid of his have not yet conquered any place that was honest- friends, (and really this is a time at which it is wantly defended. Mina with his army alone, has kept ed), and hoping that others in arrears will cease to one third of the whole force in complete check: and great hopes may be entertained of the efforts of Quiroga and sir Robert Wilson, in the parts adjacent to Corunna. Ballasteros, also, in the south, if he has not really defeated the enemy, has, at least, much alarmed them. Every thing remained firm at Cadiz, and the city was well supplied.

remain so, he expects to continue his labors in all respects as heretofore. Those indebted more than for one year will speedily be notified of the fact; and, that every account may be stated correctly, it is earnestly requested, that agents, who have made PARTIAL remittances on account of monies received, will immediately state PARTICULARS-for a serious attempt will be made to effect a general settlement of the affairs of this office. It is necessity that drives to it.

From these special matters, not pleasant to speak of, yet irresistibly forcing themselves to notice, I shall proceed to offer a few remarks on other things of more general interest.

The most important matter that has now reached us is this-that the British government has refused credit to the rebel regency of Madrid, though their paper was endorsed by his royal highness, the child of France, the descendant of Henry IV. the posses. sor of the sword holily watered by his wife, the duke of Angouleme! and guaranteed by the "legitimates" of France, Russia, Austria and Prussia! The paper has been "turned down"-or returned, without be- I feel some degree of pleasure in commencing ing laid before the British king-that is, in an official this volume by the insertion of an article, which manner. We regard this as the greatest insult that seems fully to authenticate the facts reported as the "holy alliance" could receive; and build an as the mighty improvements made by our countrysurance upon it, that, if Spain holds out for a few man, PERKINS, on the properties, application and months only-Cadiz will not be blockaded by a French power of steam-which are probably to produce fleet, but defended by a British one. The regency of the greatest revolution in the world that ever was Madrid were mad, when they forced this subject on brought about by human ingenuity or human the British government. See page 7. But possi- strength, by acquiring the power fabled to have bly, it had been determined by the "holy allies" been possessed by the giants of old, of heaping up that Great Britain should declare for or against the mountain on mountain; and in sending forth man, the infallibility of their resolution, in regard to the armed by Science, as if to subdue the very princi rights of men and the legitimate powers of kings-ple of gravitation, and reverse the order of nature, one of whom England had killed, and she gloried in by giving motion to inanimate things! The snowthe "revolution" accomplished, when another was capt rocks of the most elevated and hitherto inac. banished, cessible places, and, perhaps, the depths of the ocean, are to be dissolved or "vexed" through the The 12th year, or 24th volume of the REGISTER, unconquerable strength of steam. There is no was closed last week, and we now enter upon a measure to calculate the extent to which this disconew volume, year and series of the work. The very may proceed. The force of millions of men usual title page and table of contents for the last may be concentrated on a small lot of ground, and volume, will be delivered or forwarded next week. the power that raised the greatest of the Egyp The opportunity is fitting to thank the many tian pyramids, be gathered in a space 15 or 20 kind and faithful friends who have travelled with feet square.

VOL, XXV-1.

now places are eagerly sought for hundreds of them; and the master regards it as a serious thing to add to the number of those dependent on him for bread. These are familiar cases, but they speak to us in a language that cannot be mistaken, and shew that we must exert ourselves, and depend on ourselves, more than we have.

The approaching election of president, however, to obtain a respectable lad for an apprenticeis that which most commonly excites the attention of the people of the United States, at this time; and it, most assuredly, is worthy of their profound consideration; and, on account of that excitement, and for various other reasons, it seems to be need ful that I should say something about it just now. By the force of circumstances, domestic as well as foreign, it is fully apparent to the mind The appearance of things in Europe, also, is worof every reflecting man, that we shall be requir.thy of much reflection. Though separated by a ed to act more for ourselves and rely more on wide ocean from the old world, we are deeply inteourselves, than we have hitherto done. The prerested in its concerns. sent pressure on the production of our country, by surely at hand. In the perfection of the schemes A most important crisis is subsisting so many idle or unprofitable persons, of the "holy alliance," we must anticipate the excannot be sustained. Employment must be furnish tinction of civil and religious liberty, and no one ed, or the means of support will fail. When there can believe, that, if Europe is forced back to barba. is an active demand for labor, a people must fiou-rian darkness, we shall be permitted to retain, unrish-when otherwise, they necessarily will be in a disturbed, the light of reason, the freedom of the state of suffering. In the first case, money, the press and the common rights of man. common medium of business, is "plenty," more be- only, that can decidedly interfere to arrest this ter It is Britain, cause of the rapidity of its circulation than for an in- rible march of despotism, and we know that her crease of its quantity, though a great increase is people would willingly do it: but it is by no means made; in the other, it becomes "scarce" for want of certain that her government, if not really a party circulation, and its quantity is also diminished, for to the crusade against personal liberty and national it will continually seek the place where it is in sovereignty in Spain, does not, at least, more enthe greatest demand for the payment of labor. courage than oppose it.* It has been openly stated The theory and practice of these principles are in a very imposing form, that, when Spain is crush. well known. Labor now is in demand in England ed, Britain herself will be assailed by the "legiti. -money is "plenty," it will hardly bring 3 per cent. mates"-they have already suppressed what little per annum, and the poor rates have been reduced there was of freedom in Wurtemberg, Switzerland, from 50 to 75 per cent. in the space of two or three &c. as incompatible with what is called the "tranyears! See the article headed "British manufac quility of Europe," It seems that the British ministuring districts," page 6. The poor rates at Shef. try did advise some modifications of the constitution field, were 36,000l. in 1816, 19,000 in 1822, and esti- and government of Spain-and if so, they are suremated at 15,000 for 1823!-In Birmingham, 52,000. ly prepared to receive such advice respecting their in 1820, and 20,000 in 1822! and weekly wages at own! But all these direful anticipations may, posManchester have risen from 3s. 3d. in 1817, to from sibly, be driven away by the energy of the people of 10 to 16s. in 1823! What a vast amount of comfort Europe, rising en masse to cast down their civil and is thus introduced-what a mighty amount of mo- ecclesiastical tyrants, and to Spain may be the gloney thus circulated! At Manchester, it is reasona-ry of becoming the Thermopyla of human rights, in ble to suppose, that not less than 20,000 persons that quarter of the world. Yet, whether the "holy are affected by the class referred to; at 3s. 3d. per allies" succeed in their infernal designs, or "infuweek, their wages would amount to only 3,7501. riated man shall again seek his lost liberty through but at 12s. (the present probable average), they blood and slaughter," it is reasonable to believe that would be 12,0001. How great is the effect of this we shall have no small difficulties with the powers of increase, passing rapidly from band to hand, and Europe, and that our affairs with them will require vivifying every description of business! Now, con- the greatest circumspection and care-however trast this with our own condition-take a solitary loath we are to have any sort of relation with them, fact; the poor house of Baltimore city and county, unless in regard to commercial affairs. We will not at this bountiful season of the year, has a greater interfere with their political institutions; but can it number of inmates than it bad a few years ago, in be expected that they will not interfere with our's? the most inclement of our winter months, though-That they will respect, as rights, in our governthe aggregate of our population is not greater than ment and laws, what they proclaim to be at variance it was, and the means of the people, to support the with the "repose of the world?" It is not to be establishment, are fearfully reduced. It is believed, expected that they will, if the power to act against that, during the next winter, the amount of our pau- us shall not be interrupted by events nearer home pers will be about, or nearly, three times as great With these "prospects before us," how needful as in 1817; but the power to subsist them has de- is it that we should approach the presidential quescreased at a larger rate: that is, the poor taxes are at tion calmly, and discuss it without engendering least four times more onerous on the people now heat, and especially without exciting local jealousies, than they were then; not only because of a reduc- which have so extensively, and unhappily, taken ed quantity of money, but for the diminished cir. the place of political parties! We have seen it claimculation of what we have, labor not being in request.ed as a right, that the "free states" should furnish A few years since, it was as a favor for a mechanic the next president, as being the most numerous in population, and for having had one only four years *No matter what sort of employment-the "masince the organization of the government: and on nufacture of ships" or the manufacture of calicoes, the other hand, it has been asserted that a slave to laden them with. But, if the whole surplus la

bor of this country were applied to the production *The insulting return of the letter from the re. of bread stuffs, they would be as worth nothing in bel regency at Madrid, a copy of which was rethe market, unless there should be an increased fo.ceived since the preceding was written, seems to reign demand; the abundant crop of the present give a more decidedly neutral, as well as just chayear may produce less money to the growers of racter, to the British government, than I had gain than the short crop of last year. 'hended. appre

state" cannot support a president from other than is to be defended at the common expense, for its such a state. What sort of language is this, and character is the opposite of that which belongs to where must it end? We have seen a distinguished citizenship. Now, suppose a caucus were suggest. member of congress, openly avow the fact of a deed for the purpose of preventing an operation of sign, in the "slave states," to establish an ascendancy the power of this large portion of the house of rein the senate of the United States, to keep in check presentatives-what would the people say? What the will of the PEOPLE as represented in the other friend of the republic would tolerate the idea of it? house-and secure the prevalence of a will of a With what dispositions would the people of the minority at the cost of that of the majority! We see south listen to it? Yet there is a willingness in an attempt making even to convert a "free state" many, and it is the avowed design of some, to jug. into a "slave state," in possible furtherance of the gle, (I must call it so), with other express provi plan just referred to. Let these things be "frown- sions of the same instrument, not less repugnant ed" into contempt. They are repugnant to the to reason in themselves, (if either is repugnant to constitution, as well as unnatural. There is no sort the fitness of things at all), and equally the result of "management" in a free country that can force of good dispositions to establish and maintain the the submission of the majority-there is no disposi- federal quality of the states. Caucusses for party tion in a majority to disregard the principles and political purposes have been tolerated, and no compromises of the constitution, unless they are one has more warmly supported some of them violently outraged, by the "management" of the than myself--but party-politics, though now the minority; but the will of the majority, fairly ex-pretended object of a few, are not the real causes pressed in a CONSTITUTIONAL way, must be submitted why a caucus is desired; it is either to operate to, or the compact is at an end. Mutual concessions in favor of a person, or against the express provi built up our confederacy; and mutual forbear- sions of the constitution itself. If personal, it is mean ance, with a sacred regard to the eternal fitness of and grovelling and contemptible; if against the conthings, must preserve it. Legislative power must stitution-what shall I say that it is? How can membe where personal power is-and when the latter bers of congress, sworn to support the constitution, changes its location, the other must follow it. The shake off their public character, and, as private people of all the states have their own private feel | men, conspire together, to prevent the operation of ings and special anxieties-some of these are not the constitution! It is fearful to think of it. If one within the reach of legislation; they rest on circum-provision is to be thus placed hors du combat, what stances not to be remedied, though sincerely re other shall stand? Will Catalines be wanting in gretted-still it should be the common object of the great states to batter down the rights secured all to secure unto all, every rightful means of safety to the weak ones? Let the constitution be amend. and success, that personal happiness and public pros ed-but while it exists, let it be supported. perity may increase and abound. The interests of It is on these principles that I have opposed a the people of the several states are not in opposition, congressional caucus, for the making of a president. one to the other; and it would be easy to harmonize I am not enough in favor of any one of the canthe feelings of all, if plain, substantial, unsophistical-didates, or so warmly opposed to the election of anoed justice were done unto all, by all. Let us do unto others as we would be done by, in similar circum. stances, and every thing will go on smoothly enough; but those who have, or desire to obtain, any peculiar advantages, through the nature of their population, soil or climate, should yield similar advantages to others, for promoting the benefit of all. Who is it that desires to have, for himself, some special good that he would refuse to his fellows? "Live and let live," must be the ruling motto of every honest and honorable man.

ther, that I would jeopardize the constitution on account of any of them. They may live and die and rot, revered or detested by posterity; yet I hope that the constitution will remain long after each of them [and myself], have ceased to be other than little heaps of dust and ashes. As to the individual who is to fill the high seat, I am easily pleased. I shall not be angry, or feel much mortified, if any one of four out of the five distinguished gentlemen named, are elected; and the one to whom I am opposed shall be treated with all the respect due to his station, and, It is exceedingly dangerous in us to trifle with as a gentleman and a patriot. It is no reason, be the constitution. That it requires amendments is cause his opinions do not square with my ideas of admitted, but these must be made in a constitution.right, that I should traduce him, or deny him the al way. To avoid, or set aside, one great principle possession of any good quality. As editor of the Reof the constitution, indeed the key-stone of the cox-gister, I shall not abuse, or especially support any FEDERATION itself, it is proposed to resort to a can one-it would be contrary to the rules which have cus to prevent the possible chance of electing a always governed this work, notwithstanding prinpresident in the manner provided by the constituciples shall be discussed, and he people will apply tion, though that instrument has virtually forbidden them as they see proper; but, as a private citizen, any such proceeding, in any respect or contingency I shall feel myself at perfect liberty to exercise the whatever! Our constitution was the result of conci- right of suffrage just as I please, yielding to others liation and compromise; the small states feared that all that I claim for myself. And, if in opposing a they would be eaten up" by the large ones, and caucus, any suppose that private feeling has had efthe southern apprehended that they might be taxed | fect-they are mistaken in me or I am mistaken in to death' by the superior representative and senato- myself. In doing this, I find myself in the company rial power of the middle and eastern. To relieve the of those with whom I have politically acted for more first apprehension, the states were equally repre. than twenty-five years. Nine tenths of the people sented in the senate, the most stable branch of the of Baltimore, (and our "democracy," it is believed, government, and the southern people were allow. will not be doubted), are now opposed to a caucus, ed to bring a certain species of property, [the slave so also are the people of Maryland; and it appears population], into the house to strengthen their re- probable that not more than one, if one, of her reprepresentative power, on the presumption and agree-sentatives will enter a caucus, (if held), unless in ment that that property would and should be taxed. manifest opposition to the will of their constituents, This property sends nearly one ninth of the whole which, it is understood, will be laid before them by house of representatives, yet it pays no tax, and way of instruction. Instead of quieting sectional

feelings and assuaging local jealousies, it is our de-hailing it as an invention which was to do honor to liberate belief that it will increase and establish the the age in which we live, and to add a new and pow. worst dispositions in the republic, in the present erful arm to British industry, imperfect experiments circumstances of persons and things. Enough, and confined views were urged against the princi. however, perhaps has been said about it, and I shall ple of its construction; the jealousies of rival trad. gladly retire from the discussion, unless defensive.ers were arrayed against it; imaginary apprehen. There is more than a whole year before the peo-sions of danger were excited, and short sighted po. ple will be called upon to select and elect their liticians sounded the alarm, that such an invention president-so there is ample time to reason and re- would precipitate our country from its lofty preflect on the subject. In the interim, however, they eminence among the manufacturing nations of the will reclaim the right of suffrage, in those states world. wherein the legislature has used, or rather usurped it. It is the undoubted intention of the constitution and the unquestionable right of the people, to elect their electors of president. And I have no doubt but that the result will be happy-that the wishes of the majority will directly or ultimately prevail, and such decisions shall ever be respected by

THE EDITOR OF THE REGISTER.

Most of these grounds of opposition have been now removed by direct experiment. Mr. Perkins' engine is actually at work. Its operations have been witnessed, and minutely examined by engineers and philosophers of all kinds; and the most unreasonable sceptics have been compelled to acknow. ledge the justness of its principles, as well as the energy of its operations. The active and inventive mind of Mr. Perkins, however, did not remain PERKINS' STEAM ENGINE. The Edinburg Phulo- satisfied with this experiment. He has discovered sophical Journal, for July last, contains a description a method, which we consider equal in value to his of Mr. Perkins' new steam engine, which is insert-new engine, by which he can convey the benefit of ed below with the omission of such parts only as his original principle to steam-engines of the old relate to the description of the machine, with refer-construction; and this has been recently succeeded, ence to the plates. we are told, by a most extraordinary discovery, that the same heat may be made to perform its part more than once, in the active operations of the en.

Here follows a description of the machine refer. ring to an acompanying drawing of it. The article then proceeds:

It now seems that Perkins has not only fully established his principles, but succeeded in giving practical operation to them. It is the giant disco-gine. very of the age, and will mark it; for its effect on the state of society may be only compared with that which the general deluge had on the world! No man can calculate the extent to which steam power The engine which we have now described, is, at will go the power of ten horses is exerted for a present, performing actual work in Mr. Perkins' whole day at the cost of two bushels of coal! manufactory. It is calculated as equal to a tenWe may now expect that what were thought the horse power, though the cylinder is no more than wildest visions of Oliver Evans, and others, are about 2 inches in diameter, and 18 inches long, with a to be realized. He asserted that the time would stroke of only 12 inches. Although the space occome when steam would be applied to the common cupied by the engine is not greater than 6 feet by 8, purposes of housewifery-such as the scrubbing yet Mr. Perkins considers that the apparatus, (with of floors and washing of clothes; and by Perkins' discovery it would seem that the power of a horse may be compressed in a space of two or three feet square, judging by the size of the machine, which has the power of 10 horses. What is to be the end of these things!-to what various purposes will such an acquisition of power be applied! May we not expect that our fields will be ploughed by steam power, and battles be fought, on both land and water, in which that power will supersede the use of that acquired by the explosion of gun powder? May there not be steam cannon and moveable steam batteries or steam forts.

the exception of the working cylinder and piston), is perfectly sufficient for a 30 horse engine. When the engine performs full work, it consumes only two bushels of coal in the day.

On the application of Mr. Perkins's principle to Steam-Engines of the old construction. Great as the invention is which we have now described, yet we are disposed to think that the ap plication to the principle to the old steam engines is not less important. When we consider the enor mous capital which is at present embodied in Great Britain in the substantial form of steam-engines, and the admirable elegance and skill with which these It is estimated that there are about 10,000 steam noble machines impel and regulate the vast populaengines in operation in Great Britain, averaging tion of wheels and pinions over which they reign, each the power of twenty horses. Estimating the we feel as if some vast innovation were proposed work of one horse equal to that of six men, the act- upon our established usages, by the introduction of ing powers of those engines will be equal to one Mr. Perkins's engine. The very idea that these million two hundred thousand men. How much potentates of the mechanical world should be dis. will this amount be increased by the cheap appa-placed from their thrones; that their strongholds ratus and great economy of Perkins' machinery?

FROM THE EDINBURG PHILOSOPHICAL JOURNAL.

should be dismantled; their palaces demolished, and their whole affairs placed under a more economical management, is somewhat startling to those who dread change, and admire institutions that both work and wear well. Mr. Perkins, however, has saved them from such a degradation. Ile has allowed them to retain all their honors and privileges, and proposes only to invigorate them with fresh in fluence and power.

There never has been, in our day, an invention which has created such a sensation in the scientific and in the manufacturing world. The steam engine of Mr. Watt had been so long considered as the greatest triumph of art and science, that it was deemed a sort of heresy to regard it as capable of improvement; and, notwithstanding all that has been done by Mr. Woolff, and other eminent engineers, In this new system, the old engines, with their boilers, the undoubted merit of their engines has scarcely are retained unaltered. The furnaces alone are reyet been admitted by the public. Under such cir- moved. Mr. Perkins constructs a generator concumstances, Mr. Perkins' claims were likely to sisting of three horizontal tubes of gun metal, conmeet with various kinds of opposition. Instead of (nected together, filled with water, and supplied

with water from a forcing pump, as in his own en- | store, Fly market, two boxes of lace, manufactured gine. This generator is exposed to heat in an analogous manner, so that, by means of a loaded valve, which opens and shuts, the red hot fluid may be constrained till forced out of the generator into the water of the boilers of Bolton and Watt. By this means, as much low pressure steam of four pounds on the square inch may be generated by one bushel of coals, as could be produced in the old engine by nine bushels. This most important result, was ob. tained by actual experiment.

Since these great improvements have been effect ed, Mr. Perkins has made a discovery that seems, In its practical importance, to surpass them all. He now entirely dispenses with the use of the conden. ser, and works the engine against the atmosphere alone; and by methods with which we are not ac. quainted, and which indeed it would not be prudent for him to disclose at present, he is enabled to arrest the heat after it has performed its mechanical functions, and actually pump it back to the generator, to unite with a fresh portion of water and renew its use ful labors. In an operation like this, a considerable portion of the heat must still be lost, but the won- The lace is pronounced by good judges, to be of der is that any should be saved; and we venture to a superior quality, and that it will not suffer in comsay, that the most sanguine speculator, on the om-parison with the imported, made from the same manipotence of the steam engine, never dared even to imagine the possibility of such an invention.