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NILES' WEEKLY REGISTER.

NEW SERIES. No. 1-VoL. I] BALTIMORE, AUGUST 30, 1817. [No. 1—Vol XIII. WHOLE No. 5!3

THE PAST-THE PRESENT-FOR THE FUTURE.

PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY H. NILES, AT $5 per annum, PAYABLE IN ADVANCE.

The terms of the WEEKLY REmen are five, ed, but the substance is as heretofore;-and so dollars per annum, payable in advance, by every shall it be with the work itself. subscriber.

The second is of our country. Here we feel at home; contentedly sitting down in our own

Notice that a payment is expected, will hereafter be given by the use of a slip of blue paper, (instead of white, as customary,) for the direction of the REGIS. house, and enjoying all that pleases the husTER to individuals. But there is no necessity for it band and father a state of repose that gold at present-as every subscriber was informed of cannot buy; the quiet of the soul; the rest of the apparent state of his account, on the 9th in safety in the lap of freedom. PEACE, with LIstant to which attention is respectfully invited. Gentlemen desirous of obtaining the GENERAL the horn of PLENTY, visits every section of the BERTY and VALOR for her supporters, bearing INDEX and volume of REVOLUTIONARY SPEECHES, or either of them, will please to forward the cost there republic. The centinel says--"All's well”— of, (34 each) with their advance for the present but he must not leave his post. Carelessness may destroy like treason.

year.

It is with pride and pleasure the editor observes that, so far as he has heard, the arrangement as to payment in advance, is received with universal satisfaction.

Desultory Remarks.

There is not one reflecting American that calculates (as we Yankees say) on the friendship of nations governed by kings. It is the principle of their own power to hate us. We have presented to their subjects a "dangerous example of successful rebellion," and they veIt is the advice of a sage, "never to speakry naturally wish to see us "crippled.” Poliuntil you have something to say"-meaning, cy may lead them to treat us courteously; but, that we should reflect before speaking. This whatever may be the motive of their conduct, good advice is too often wilfully neglected, if a love of justice ought to regulate our own-we may judge by the proceedings of congress It is a noble reflection-it is a part of the naand other legislative bodies; and, sometimes, tional strength, that no foreign nation ever perhaps, set aside by peculiar circumstances, in sent hither a minister to remonstrate against which a person is apparently compelled to speak. us; and, though there was something apparently I have been told that our celebrated advocate, humiliating in it at the time, it is also to our hoLuther Martin, esq. attending the general nor that we so long suffered the outrages of court at Annapolis, discovered that the copy England, seeing that we resisted them, at of a certain paper recorded in Baltimore coun- last, as we did. Repeated defeats and disasty court was wanting, for the success of a cause ters taught us to conquer the Eagle-spirit of in which he was engaged, when the trial had the people rose, and looked direct at the sur, begun: an express was dispatched, and he un- to receive the full rays of its glory. The isdertook to employ the court until the desired sue of the contest, which had for its avowed copy could be had the distance between the object our reduction to "unconditional subplaces is thirty miles. He did so, and amused mission," astonished Europe. The undivided and instructed the court and the bar by a flood power of England, every where felt through of law knowledge, which, though it did not al- her gold or by her arms, was baffled by a peop. ways bear upon his case, was not sufficiently yet in the gristle of their manhood; and the irrelevant to cause him to be checked. He was vulgar no longer suppose us to be "a sort of sain the midst of a learned exposition of a great vages with long tails,"-but regard us as men point at the moment that the official copy was like themselves, capable of attempting, and ut into his hands; and, at once breaking off in fact of accomplishing, almost any thing.his argument, he said, "and please your ho- As to naval enterprizes, they would hardly be nors, here is the very thing that I have been surprized to hear that a party of yankees had speaking for." The paper was read by a ju- doubled Cape Horn in a great washing-tub for nior yer; and it must be acknowledged "he a ship, and captured in the Pacific a frigate or spoke to some purpose," for he gained the two that they happened to fall in with unconcause. -on the occasion of presenting the voyed by ships of the line! Every one that has first number of a new volume, and feeling, as travelled in Europe since the treaty of Ghent, Mr. Martin did, a sort of a necessity to speak, is sensible of the vast change that has been I am fortunate enough to amuse or instruct made in our favor. The opinions about us are my readers, I shall be gratified. as extravagant in our favor now, as they were

The first immediate concern between the against us some years ago. But it is not a editor and his subscribers is the WEEKLY RE- high military character that we would aim at; GISTER. The language of our motto is chang-the world wants repose and, whilst we maniVOL. XIII

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fest a determination and an ability to maintain our rights, at arms-may it be our great praise to excel in works of peace, and proudly to shew to the world the capability that man has to govern himself, in equity and justice: and to hold up our country as an asylum for the oppressed of all nations.

one man were only to stamp his foot upon the shore of France. But these are “legitimate sovereigns!"

as

It has been the great business of the editor of the WEEKLY REGISTER to endeavor to raise up a national character; and it shall be persevered in with unwearied assiduity. The peoIt is a singular fact, that our government is ple are every day more and more convinced the only one in the civilized world whose re- that they have a country and a constitution venue exceeds its disbursements; and yet we worth defending; and it is now manifest to are more lightly taxed than any of them. With all, that, with a sound and enlightened policy, much money lying in the treasury, there is a we must have peace and prosperity at home, serious difficulty to redeem the public debt ac- and safety and respect abroad. To point out cording to the appropriations for it, the stocks this policy is a labor worthy of the soundest being above par. A very natural enquiry hearts and best heads amongst us-and the arises as to the cause of this? The stocks bear people should be made as familiar with it a only six per cent. and money in the United with the right of suffrage, that they may exStates is worth, because it will easily produce, ercise the latter as they ought. With electiona greater interest. But the cause is in the fo- neering we have nothing to do: it is the prinreign demand. European capitalists now have ciple of things that concerns us--it is the an entire confidence in the stability of our go- business of the people to judge of those prinvernment; and, considering the uncertainty of ciples and apply them, as they see fit. The things at home, wish to deposit something in end of government is the happiness of society; our keeping for a dernier resort; the probability if it fails to secure that, it is the right of is, that the public debt, instead of being paid society to alter or amend it. Here is the off according to our ability for it, will not be Alpha and Omega of our politics. The rule reduced much faster (after the present year) that shall govern our conduct through life. than the periods of its limitations will admit of --and that we shall have much money lying idle in the treasury. This is, really, an enviable situation. The theory of our government has been severely tested by difficulties in grows out of a scrupulous regard to every apparent trifle that is necessary to constitute an peace and great pressure in war; but has an elasticity in the support of the people, or ra-aggregate. And, while we would claim no ther in supporting itself, (for the people and the government are as nearly the same as they can well be) that causes positive good to result from apparent evil. It is evident that our system is the strongest in the world-and why should it not be, seeing that it is every man's personal interest to support it; a case that exists no where else? In all other countries, the state and church, in alliance, are at war with the people: we have nothing of this, because the state and church affairs are maA considerable premium had been offered in Lonnaged by the people for their own benefit, and don, for the invention of a quadrant possessing the at their own pleasure. In every department properties, which were ultimately attained in this. of either, they are immediately represented; Godfrey, a poor but ingenious man, applied himself and cannot be taxed without their consent. diligently to the business of forming one, which And hence it very naturally follows, that we ought to have the best patriots and the best Christians on the globe; as indeed, I believe that we have.

Godfrey's Quadrant.
National character, like private reputation,

more than is our due, from a love of justice to others, we should be quite as rigidly honest to ourselves and exact that due, tempering the exaction with mercy, so far as the case may deserve it.

It is not in my line nor within my power to eulogize, according to its merits, the quadrant truly one of the most important inventions of at present used by all civilized nations. It was modern times. The history of its discovery is as follows:

should answer the description given in these re and the honor of the invention, he engaged a pasposals, and succeeded. To acquire the premium sage to England in a ship just ready to sail from Philadelphia. John Hadley, esq. then commanded

These are among the advantages enjoyed a ship, lying also in the Delaware; and ted the by our country, and have we not reason to be captain, with whom Godfrey was ts, to dine with him.-After dinner he brought out quadrant, proud of them? Behold, the peace that pre-which he considered as superior to those in common vails!-the president of the United States has use. His guest told him, that if he would dine travelled through the eastern section of our with him the next day, he would show him one country unguarded, save by the respect of his lately invented by a Philadelphian, which was much fellow citizens; the regent of England pro- the next day, provided with the means of taking an superior to his own. Hadley consented; and came ceeds to his parliament in a bullet-proof coach; exact description of the new quadrant. After they and Louis, though yet surrounded by foreign had dined, the quadrant was produced; and Hadley bayonets, would tremble like an aspen leaf if took a description of it. His ship being ready to

rant to be made of the same structure. Som weeks

rior to any, which ha

efore been known. He pro

British Espionage.

sail, he fell down the river that night; and, havinculated for it, and may, at least, put some to a very shor passage to England, procured a p-all- thinking on the subject; which I really think is worthy of the attention of the patriotic leafterwards, the ship in which Godfrey said, arriv edi Lagland. Here he found that class gislature of Pennsylvania, and of the distinof copie, who were interested i ich a subject, guished individuals alluded to. The quadrant ch conversation about Hae quadrant, as be is as much our own, as our flag—and of it, g a new and very happy-ention, and much supe- and all else that honestly belongs to us, let us cured a sight of instrument, and found it exar Say "DON'T GIVE UP THE SHIP, 37 the same mis own. You may suppose, that he wastonished at this discovery. The captain, Scarcely less astonished at the grossness of the fraud, and deeply wounded by this proof of his own The miserable system," by herds of spies indiscretion, explained the mystery to Godfrey.and informers, sham-plots and the like, were Yet, with these facts as notorious to all men referred to in our last number. By Cobbett's as that the sun shines at noon-day, the thief (New-York) Register, of the 21st instant, we I call the man by the proper name that his have a history of an affair which, soon after it conduct deserved the thief, Hadley, succeed-happened, much excited our curiosity; but we ed in building up a reputation for himself and were then unable to understand its bearings. his country, on the work of Godfrey, our coun- The facts are briefly as follows: tryman, and made his fortune on the insanity The government wished some commotion to of the person he robbed? Is it possible, that justify them in their strong measures, such as we should longer countenance a villiany like suspending the habeas corpus act, &c. and pantthis? It is a stain upon the English nation, ed for the blood of Mr. Hunt, whom they fearthat they have sanctioned it as they have-but ed. A person named Dyall, as chairman of a it is a spaniel spit-licking meanness in us to committee, called the famous meeting at Spasanction it as we do. fields, to memorialize the prince regent. Mr.

The unhappy man became a maniac.

Come out of this state, my fellow citizens. Hunt was then specially invited to attend the "Feel and believe" that you have a country that meeting, but hesitated whether to go or not, you may justly be proud of, in every respect, being unapprized of the intended proceedings, and especially as to nautical affairs. Frankly but agreed to be present. Dyall is sent for, give to others the praise that is their due, and a copy of the memorial, intended to be while you profit by their ingenuity and find passed by the meeting, is lodged in the office of safety in their genius; but take care of your- the secretary of state. The meeting is held at selves "national honor is national strength;" the appointed time; and, at the very moment as we disregard it we become fitted for trans- when it was supposed Mr. H. was offering the formation into a nation of puppies. John Bull said memorial, the Courier newspaper is put will take whatever you please to let him have; to press, with a paragraph saying that their recollect his sine qua non at Ghent ;!! He must reporter had just returned from the meeting, be met every where and in every way; and the and had heard Mr. Hunt move a memorial of a ramifications of his power and influence is so very treasonable nature;" of which it actually great in this country,that it requires no little in-went on to insert a passage! But all this fine dustry to discover all its bearings. machinery was defeated-the prepared memoTo give to our country and countryman their rial was not approved of by Mr. Hunt; he caus, due, at least among ourselves, suppose these ed it to be set aside, and introduced in lieu of it things were to be donea respectful petition for reform.

name.

First. The state of Pennsylvania to pass an Mr. Cobbett observes it is treason in any act declaring that in all proceedings of a legal one not to prevent the commission of treason, nature in that state, the quadrant now in use if he has the power of doing it." Yet here was [which ought to be described,] SHALL be called a snare laid to lead Mr. Hunt, innocently, into Godfrey's Quadrant. Let it be made so impe- an act of treason, and by the government itself! rious that the most perfect lawyer, even in his This "out Herod's Herod;" and, as they say pleading, should not hint that it had any other on the Eastern-shore of Maryland, of any thing that is supereminent, it is the very "cap-sheaf Second. Let the secretary of the navy, or of all that is dishonest and base. the commissioners of the navy, either of whom towhich it may most properly belong, order and direct, that in all conversations on board of out public ships and vessels, and in all official Several accounts have been published of communications whatever, the said quadrant enormous animals, of the serpent kind, being SHALL be called, as it is, Godfrey's Quadrant. seen in the sea, especially on the coasts of I do not pretend to say that these things northern Europe; but their appearance was so would be the most effectual to bring about the rare that most persons doubted whether they change desired. But they seem to be well cal-existed at all. The fact is now resolved be

The Sea Serpent.

pela.

yond a doubt—there are "monsters in the deep"ntucky Baptist society for propagaing the Gosof the serpent kind. ong the Heathen," to the Indian agents, with That which has appeared in the harbor of art a distribution might be made through this offices take great pleasure in complying Cape-Ann, Massachusetts, has been seen and with this genital observed, sometimes within a few yards, by so doing, I shall hat's request, and especially f by bundreds of persons, hundreds of times, and so vitally the happiness moted an object, affec many thousands of f almost every day for six or eight days, play-man beings. I have long believed the key the civilization ing near the surface of the water, as if to enof the Aborigines, to be the knowle of some mothery, beams. A great diversity of opi- christian language, but especially the Engrah in for its motion is estimated as to its length, this case, inasmuch as information would be con in three minutes; but it seems generally agreea a mile veyed to this people, through this channel. This to be from eighty to one hundred feet long, instruction. Under this conviction and by the use of he furnished only by the agency of schools of and of the thickness of a flour barrel at the this means, the "Kentucky Baptist society" stands largest place. Its motion is undulatory, like ready to commence its great work of reformation, that of a catterpillar, and it turns itself about and sustained as it is by means the most ample, (of with the rapidity of lightning, sometimes hold-honorable men, and christians, and moved to this this I am assured by col. Johnson) the members ing his head eight feet out of the water. A generous work by the impulse of benevolence, captain Beach had an opportunity of observing there can be no question of its favourable result, him in several favorable positions, and once unless in the minds of those who believe Indians when he appeared to be reposing; and he has incapable of reform; and those who indulge this fade a drawing of him, which is intended to opinion, are certainly not conversant with the his be engraved. His head is about "the size of al tory of those people. bucket," the under jaw and teeth like a shark's, the christian religion, (that system which of all I solicit on the part of humanity and behalf of and, when his mouth is open, is very terrific. others, combines the most to promote human hap His body is of a dark color, but the head is piness) that you circulate these tidings among he partly white. He often approaches within 15 Indians within your agency; and by means of all or 20 feet of the shore. All the skill and inge-your persuasion, endeavor to influence them to acnuity of the hardy and enterprizing people cept the generous offer. whose coast he has visited, has been put in requisition to take him, but without effect. chark hooks have been baited and set afloat in the harbor, and many boats have been out to get a better account of him. The eyes of intelliOFFICE OF INDIAN TRADE, gent men are upon him; and if he should escape Georgetown, D. C.) July 12, 1817. the snares laid for him, we may expect, at least, you last, to which address I subjoined a list of DEAR COL.-Since I had the pleasure of writing an authentic narrative respecting him. "The agents, embracing the number of those to whom I chance of taking this creature," observes one had at that time addressed circulars, I have forof the papers, "is small: it requires not only and also (with a letter) to each of the three gowarded circulars to those whose names are attached, the club of a Hercules, but the cunning con-vernors, viz. gov. Cass, gov. Clarke, and gov. Lewis. trivance of a Vulcan." It delights in smooth I have thought much of the prospects which are water, and does not appear when the sea is brightening before the poor Indians. I rejoice at ruffled. them. The rays of mercy are already breaking On the 22d instant the serpent was seen off through the clouds, which for so many years have Kettle-Island, between Manchester and Cape-dition to the establishments which I named to you, hung over and darkened their prospects. In adAnn, following and feasting on a large school is one of magnitude and much promise, on the of alewives. Great exertions have been made Hywasee in the Cherokee country, under the "Ameto take him, for 2000 dollars is offered for him.rican board of commissioners for foreign MisBut he is said to have turned on his pursuers, sions," at the head or which is Cyrus Kingsbury. and caused them to seek the shore in great These benevolent men are devoted to the cause of haste and alarm.

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Address to Samuel Trott, C. S. and direct to

"Great Crossings Kentucky," favoring me also with a copy of your address. T. L. M'KENNEY. Extract of a letter from T. L. M Kenney, esq. to col. R. M. Johnson,

these people: and their rules and regulations, their plan of instruction, Lancasterian; their agents intelligent and pious-all combine to promise the happiest result. However harmonious these pious bodies are, in revolving in their respective orbits, (nor can such noble designs clash-it is not in their nature to do so) and however beneficial they must prove, even in their separate results; yet the consequences could not but be more extensively bene. ficial, if a union of the whole could but take place. One in purpose, one in design, one in motive, the darkness would retire before such a body of light, and the end all have in view would be hastened.

Ever yours.

T. L. MKENNEY.

This is a distinct establishment from the Baptist of Foreign Missions.

The Holy Alliance.

FROM A LONDON PAPER.

responds exactly-and I have not the least doubt of its accuracy, and it certainly is the long sought for thing.

J. STICKNEY."

No one transaction of modern times, prolific as they are in daring novelties, has excited more asto nishment than the declaration of the ministers of Doctor Hall, of Savannah, sailed in My last för the five allied powers, with regard to Lucien Bo. England, with an instrument, to claim the emolunaparte. That the ministers of despotic sovereigns ments and honors of a discovery of longitude, but, should be instructed to exercise unlimited authori. though he my obtain those, the merit of the discoty over the life, person and property of an indivi-very of the theory, is unquestionably due to doctor dual, would have excited no surprize, because they Joel Abbot, of Georgia, member elect of the 16th consider all within the grasp of their power, as ob-gress. For nearly twenty years the writer of jects at their mercy-but that the minister of Great this has occasionally corresponded with him on this Britain should give the sanction of his country, and very interesting discovery. I have now before me of his royal master, to the condemnation of a person in 1814, entitled "An Essay on the central influence his memoir on the subject, printed in Philadelphia, not taken in arms against any government-not a prisoner-not tried and convicted of any crime-is of Magnetism." The author conceives that he has as new to the history of British diplomacy, as it is discovered, in the laws of magnetism, a native primcontrary to British laws, and injurious to British ciple, by which, with proper mechanical ingenuity, honor. Not only also is the representative of his longitude may be discovered. This principle he majesty committed by this transaction, but as if to has defined, in his theory of magnetism, which eximplicate their country more deeply in the act, and plains the laws of magnetic motion, impressed by to make it peculiarly the measure of Great Britain, nature-never explained nor conceived before. Perthe duke of Wellington is stated to be present at haps further communications on this subject may the conference of ministers, giving two voices for be submitted to you. I will now only add that docEngland while the other states had but one each. tor Abbot believes that he originally conceived In no one instance, not even the decision of the and explained a law of nature impressed on mag five powers upon the reference made to them by tive government to magnetic bodies, as polarity itnets, which fixes as permanently a meridional attrac Spain in the case of the Portuguese aggressions, has the character of the congress at Vienna, and the self; that when a magnet is formed and suspended true spirit of the Holy Alliance, been made more it will obey not only a polar, but a meridional influso as to obey all its attractive powers of government, manifest, than by this declaration. By this, it ap pears, that every human being is henceforth to hold ence, and accommodate itself to the infinite conhis personal freedom at the good pleasure of the itself to the poles of the earth. ceived meridians of the earth, as it accommodates

A Great Discovery.

FROM THE AMERICAN DAILY ADVERTISER.

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five sovereigns whose word is to be law, and there is to be no habeas corpus in any part of the European possessions of the great and mighty allies. Europe is to be a military encampment, out of which no individual is to emigrate without a passport! Such is to be the result of the struggle for sum of death and misery, occasioned by the exploSafe Steam boats.-Citizens attend! Surely the twenty-five years, in which we have expended seven sion of the boilers of steam engines on board of hundred millions of money! That the first public example made under this ever intend to travel in steam boats. This discoveboats, is now enough to arrest your attention, if you international law, should happen to be the brother of Bonaparte, makes no difference in the case. Luy has recently been so openly attacked that the cien Bonaparte lived in England innocently and announce that more than forty years ago, I discoinventor is compelled to defend it. Therefore, I harmlessly at a period, when by the nearness of the vered the principles and afterwards the means of great object of terror, he had it much more in his applying the great and advantageous principle in power to excite alarm than at present; unless, in nature of the rapid increase of the elastic power of deed, it is to be alleged against him that he aban-steam, by geometrical progression, by the small indoned his brother the moment that his brother aban-creuse of heat in the water, by arithmetical progresdoned the cause of liberty, and that he is danger- sion, and thereby to lessen the consumption of fuel, ous in proportion to his integrity! We hope that this outrage against the principles for steam boats. For double heat in the water prothe size and weight of the steam engine to suit of the British fabric of society, will not be suffered duces 128 times the power, and double fuel consumto pass over without a formal protest in parliament; ed produces sixteen times the effect. And have at least let it be known to the world that there are since gat into operation seventy or eighty steam still men in England who respect the privileges of engines constructed on the eternal and immutable their own species, and who will avow their abhor- principles and laws of nature. So combined and arrence of every departure from the pale of justice, ranged that it is nearly beyond the art of man, eifreedom and humanity. plode them the elastic power of steam. ther by neglect, design, ignorance, or malice to exmake them yield to the irresistable power in a He can only small degree, so as to let the power escape until the steam extinguishes the fire, and the danger ceases. by the regular operation of the engine itself; no accident has ever happened with any of my engines to do injury.

The British parliament have outrages enough at home to protest against, without travelling to the continent for subjects.-ED.

Longitude.

FOR THE NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER.

Messrs. Editors-The following is a copy of a letter to a gentleman in Savannah :

"Ship Wallace, lat. 33, 50, long, 68, 22, "May 11, 1817. "By calculation we have made 12 deg. 35 min. difference of longitude. The doctor's machine cor

On these principles steam boats may be made the more safe, as well as the most commodious vehicles of passage, and steam mills as cheap and safe as va ter mills to consume only half the fuel that othe engines do, and cost much less.

I bave made many efforts to communicate my dis

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