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Poetry.

HARTFORD, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 25, 1841.

Mrs Sigourney has contributed the following beautiful

lines to the Lady's Book for December :

A butterfly basked on a baby's grave,
Where a lily had chanced to grow:
Why art thou here with thy gaudy dye?
Where she of the bright and the sparkling eye
Must sleep in the church-yard low.

Then it lightly soared through the sunny air,
And spoke from its shining track:

I was a worm 'till I won my wings,

And she whom thou mourn'st, like a seraph sings-
Would thou call the blest one back?

MUSINGS

From the New York American.
BY FLACCUS.

THE BACHELOR'S LAMENT.

They tell me to hasten and marry-
But ah! 'tis the cost that I fear;
And prudence still warns me to tarry,
Ere seeking amusement so dear.
Oh! there's rapture unmeasured in wooing,
And sweet the confusion when won;
But the house-keeping horrors, pursuing,
Are sure to make sentiment run.
Thus I mused t'other night, as fair Chloe
Swam round in the dance at my side:
I must furnish that wardrobe so showy,
If rashly I make her my bride.
That slim, fairy foot, and its fellow,

That tread the light measure so gay,
Must with satin be shod, and prunella,
And husband the piper must pay.
At a glance of that ankle so slender

My heart the dear bargain would close;
When my head bids me, ere I surrender,
Remember the price of the hose.

That hand, so desired beyond measure,
The suitor, that ventures to hold,
Can only secure such a treasure

By hooping the fingers with gold.

Those eyes, though their vision surpasses,
The eagle's that pierces the light,
Must be aided with opera-glasses,
However they embarrass the sight.

Though made up of roses thy face is,
Such roses bloom not in the sun;
We must veil them in the best of point laces,
Or freckles will soon overrun.

Sweetest mouth that e'er smiled upon mortal,
Hides organs of hunger within;
And dainties must pass the red portal,
Or soon cherry lips will thin.
grow

Ah! that charms so desired by a lover

Have duties so costly assigned-
That the pearls which thy siniles now uncover,
The choice of the market must grind!

Thy form richest fabrics must cumber
With many a garment of show!
And with doubtless of others a number
That bachelors never may know.
Thy brow, the fair temple where towers
High honor in marble enshrined,

Must be thatched with straw, feathers, and flowers,
To keep out the sun and the wind.

Thy care must be constantly petting
With rarest cosmetics thy face--

Thy nose to be indulged in coquetting
With 'kerchiefs bewildered with lace.
Those tresses, ensnaring allurers,

With fillets of gold must we bind;
Thy ears must be fed with bravuras,
And hung with the jewels of Ind.
Strange that man should embellish a creature
Already more fair than the morn;
That the being most gifted by Nature
Is the one we most love to adorn.

Why was Eden so pleasant to Adam-
So rid of connubial ills?
Because his ingenuous madam
Ne'er bored him with milliners' bills.

No bonnets had she for her tresses-
No silks did her person enroll:
So cheap were her costliest dresses,
For a fig one had purchased the whole.

Ah! that was the season to marry,

Ere fashion made woman her thrall,
Her trumpery-garments to carry-
Yes! clothes are the curse of the fall!

Original.

FOR THE SUPPLEMENT.
ON FEMALE INFLUENCE.

The native physical energies of woman ate inferior to
those of the other sex; and by some it is thought that her
mental energies are proportionably enfeebled. Be that
as it may, woman actually-exerts an extensive influence,
which is either pernicious or salutary. However uncon-
scious she may be of the fact, she has an influence which
is to extend farther down the vale of time than merely
her own limited existence. She not only exerts an influ-
ence upon her cotemporaries, but her successors; and
this is virtuous or vicious in proportion to her early

NO. 52.

But how striking and almost overwhelming the thought that those who act in the capacity of teachers are instructing minds which are capable of making perpetual improvement in science, and which are destined for an existence during a period of time, in the calculation of which even the most profound mathematician becomes bewildered in the labyrinth of amazement and surprise. Well may human wisdom exclaim, who is sufficient for these things! Who is competent to train the ignorance and imbecility of youth!

Again, let observation guide the reader for a moment in confirming the truth of female influence. Enter, if you please, the mother's chamber! See who gives the first impulse to the infant intellect! As the child advances, still observe the unfolding of the bud of human life! Who moulds the plastic disposition-directs the habits-controls the inclinations-teaches the understanding-regulates the disposition and influences the emotions? If maternal influence is not betrayed in the formation of the character of the child, to whom shall we ascribe its formation: Who possesses the power of rendering the disposition mild and pacific, or on the other hand turbulent and morose, if the mother does not? Who possesses facilities in a more eminent degree for swaying the youthful mind than she who sustains the relation of mother? In what earthly friend does the child repose so perfect confidence as in her? Then who knows better than she, how to adapt instruction to that child? Let her be judicious in her counsel, and faithfully warn against the temptations incident to youth. Let her precepts be established by grace seasoned by salt. Let her instill in the mind a principle of piety which will actuate him in all the subsequent scenes of life. As he wanders in the maze of earthly vicissitudes,

and is assailed by temptation, how permanent is the impression made by parental lips. It will more than neutralize the effect of corrupt influence. If he listens to the mandates of conscience, maternal counsel, like a mariner's compass, will guide him safely through life's education. Influence is most intimately connected with ensnaring scenes. Ah, the memory of such a mother the social state, and she is daily putting into operation will not cease to be cherished with veneration and grati. causes which exert an ascendant power over others, the tude. What a contrast in the influence which woman effect of which is accumulating, and may continue to do possesses in an enlightened and unenlightened land. so through eternity. The views and sentiments pos- Female ignorance, oppression and degradation, are sessed by one intelligent existence, may be imbibed by characteristic of savage life. Instead of being partner another, and transmitted to a third, finally becoming an of his joys, partaker of his pleasures, the object of his established belief, so that the influence which emanates kind regard, tender affection and warmest sympathy, she from one individual is exerted in such a manner as is compelled by her tyrannical lord to gratify his desires, doubtless often decides the destiny of an immortal soul. Then is it not of infinite moment that the current of female influence should issne from the fountain of virtue and morality, and that it be conducted in such a manner as to diffuse the greatest purity of sentiment and principle. How great must be the responsibility of those to whom the instruction of children is entrusted-to whom is committed the guidance of an immortal mind-the culture of an intellect furnished with noble faculties and capacities for acquiring, accumulating and retaining

promote his wishes, and is made the object of his usurpation and cruelty. How reverse is the condition of females in this enlightened land. They are here allowed their due rank and influence in society. This is a most happy result of Christianity. The benevolent designs of God in this respect seem to have been regarded; that is, wherever the bible is known, man is under the influence of its sacred truths. The passions are brought into divine subjection, and the wishes subordinate to divine appointment.

knowledge on a vast variety of subjects. A desire for
Intellectual cultivation is countenanced, and a purify-
knowledge is a native characteristic; indeed, such is the
ing process of soul is experienced which prepares man
original constitution of the human mind that all attempts
to allow to the other sex their rightful distinction in soci-
to eradicate this desire are unavailing. True, we some-
times find this desire in individuals as it were extinguish-ety; and he not only rejoices to see her shine in the
ed. But may it not be accounted for by supposing that brightness of intellectual brilliancy, but to discover also
the mental energies have never been disturbed from their a development of the kind and tender sensibilities of her
puerileness, or have become palsied and inert by indo- nature. Instead of being a servile attendant or a despi-
lence and sloth. The original desire is not altogether cable slave, she is the kind, obliging and beloved com-
extirpated, but the individual, having never tasked his panion. The relation of wife and mother she sustains
energies, has indulged himself in circumstances which with a dignity which commands a most extensive influ-
had a strong tendency to counteract his inclination, how-ence. Her commands the dutiful child obeys: her
wishes the affectionate brother gratifies; to her guidance
ever feeble it might be.

the confiding husband submits, and to hercounsel listens.bellion expressive of contempt, or insult of the Faculty. I must turn out the fatigue men, and main guard. 'Tis, Then as the improvement of morals, the diffusion of All the reports of this nature have originated long since thanks be to God, pretty healthy in the army. religious sentiment, and the promulgation of virtue is that occasion, and have no foundation in truth, at least, I remain your healthy and dutiful son, involved so much in the influence of females, should such facts, as report has spread abroad, were wholly unHEZEKIAH HAYDEN. To Deacon Nathaniel Hayden. they not wisely study to qualify themselves for the dis-known to the writer at the time, and, he fully believes, charge of responsibilities so weighty. For this purpose never occurred. Miscellaneous Selections.

44

will every female not only seek to be initiated in the I have brought forward this part of Mr. Webster's principles of virtue and piety, but see that those princi-history as an act of justice to him and to the public; MR. BOSWELL: The following historical sketches ples are actually implanted in the heart. These will and especially to satisfy literary young gentlemen, that published in England sometime since and copied into give a lustre to every moral quality, will control and if a few, a very few, who were inferior, indolent, or vi- the Penny Magazine at New York in 1832, may afford influence all the springs of moral action. A possession cious in College, have subsequently risen to distinction, some entertainment to the many readers of the Courof genuine piety lays a foundation for domestic happi- Daniel Webster is not of this number. At sixteen, he ant, and be acceptable among our friends of the "Old ness; this forms the basis of conjugal fidelity; on this was a man-at twenty, when graduated, in 1801, no Dominion" as a fair offset for their liberal review of too is founded the exercise of parental and filial regard: other one of his class gave higher promise of rising to the blue laws of Connecticut. Yours. &c. but what is of infinitely greater consequence, it secures eminence than he then gave. His early course was worYANKER. for us the right of a citizen in Heaven. And in contem- thy of his present character and elevation and is in perfect OLD LAWS OF VIRGINIA. plation of this, what glories burst upon the soul! How keeping with the man. Daniel Webster has become The history of the United States of North Ameriwill the sight of God's perfections fill us with joy and what he is, not by a sudden effort, not by a momentary ca is, in some respect, one of the most instructive that admiration. What felicity will the soul experience in outbreak, or a few bright flashes of genius, not by mere- we can turn to; because we are accurately acquainted the meditation of themes so delightful! Something we ly a happy combination of circumstances, not by the aid with the origin of this social community, and are also may conjecture, but we cannot fully conceive that excess of wealth and powerful friends, but by early laying, in able to trace its history in all its important facts, of joy which attends the operations of a glorified soul. connection with superior genius and correct habits in from the first establishment of the several colonies up FILIA. youth, a deep and broad foundation in a thorough clas- to the present condition of the Union. HARTFORD, November, 1841. sical education,and by a life of industry, and manly, noble effort. This is the only sure way to true elevation and real worth in public life. The commencement of his course was manly and promising; its meridian, brilliant; may its close be equally unsullied, and even more disringushed and honorable.

FOR THE SUPPLEMENT.

DANIEL WEBSTER IN COLLEGE.

A CLASSMATE.

RELIC OF PATRIOTISM.

Of all historical records none can be put in comparison with legislative enactments, as showing the condi tion of the people at any given period, and the degree of mental culture diffused among them. In the The opinion has prevailed extensively, that, in his American states, even under their colonial government. there were few men of any importance in the provin classical education, Daniel Webster did, by no means distinguish himself, or give promise of ever reaching ces who did not participate in some of the functions his present elevation. The report has been common in of government; and we may therefore consider the our Colleges, and especially in those of New England, MR. BOSWELL: The original of the following letter laws enacted at that period as indicative of the opinion that in collegiate standing, he was inferior to a large was presented by Mr. Jubez H. Hayden, of Wind-held by the most influential classes. We happen to have before us an old collection of proportion of his classmates, and that none of them ever sor, to the Connecticut Historical Society, accompanied dreampt of his rising to distinction in public life. The with this memorandum. The writer of this letter en- Virginia laws entitled 'A complete collection of the deficiency of his early scholarship has, within the know-listed into the army about the 1st of January, 1776, and Laws of Virginia, at a grand Assembly held at James ledge of the writer,been plead by many an inferior scholar; served as a private soldier. He was taken prisoner on City, 23d March 1662,' a few extracts from which may by some of the idle and irresolute, if not by the disor the 27th August, 1776, at the battle on Long Island, and not be uninteresting. There appears to be in this vol derly and dissipated, as an apology for themselves, and died on board the prison-ship of starvation, after having ume only one law about education, which proscribes an encouragement to their delusive expectation, that disposed of every thing in his possession, even to his the founding of a college "for the advance of learning, their inferiority of talents and indolence would insure sleeve buttons. 4o purchase of his keeper food enough education of youth, supply of the ministry, and prothem the eminence of this statesinan. One indolent,

to sustain life. He was a native of Windsor, and much

respected and esteemed by his neighbors. Two of his
fellow-soldiers from Windsor, died from the same cause,
and two others barely survived."

C. H.

CAMP, New York July, 4, 1776.

Honored Father and Mother:

a

motion of piety."

The law states how the money is to be raised; but as to its application nothing more is said, except that a piece of land is to be begot, and, "with as much speed s may be convenient, housing to be erected thereon for entertainment for students, and scholars." The housing department seems to have been the uppermost thing in the legislature's thoughts; the providing of good teachers was a secondary consideration.

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self-conceited student, without the least trait of genius, or decision of character, or moral virtue, said, "Webster was no scholar in College; he went along at his ease and enjoyed himself; but see, to what he has risen? I am like him in College, and hope to rise like him in my subsequent course." Deluded young man! Daniel Webster's passport to his distinction was not inferiority The time is now near at hand which must probably of talents, nor indolence in application. No opinion is determine whether Americans are to be freemen or more unfounded, none more unjust, than that he was slaves. Whether they are to have any property they There are several enactments about "rewards for inferior to the very best scholars in his own, or in any can call their own. Whether their houses and farms killing wolves," which at that time infested even the other class. He and myself commenced our course of are to be pillaged and destroyed, and they confined to lower parts of Virginia. At the present day, owing to public education at the same time, in the same class, state of wretchedness from which no human effort will the increase of population, the wolf and other wild anirecited to the same instructors, in the same College deliver them. The fate of unborn millions will now de mals, though occasionally heard of, are but rarely seen apartments and we closed our course together. I knew pend under God on the courage and conduct of this even in the mountains, and seldom do any damage. him well as a classmate and a scholar. About the age army. Our cruel and unrelenting enemy leaves us no The reward "for every wolf destroyed by pit, trap, or of sixteen, he entered College, well prepared. At choice but a brave resistance or the most abject submis- otherwise, is 200 pounds of tobacco." Tobacco was the nearly his full height, he had laid aside all traits of boy- sion: this is all we can expect. We have therefore to re- most common standard, of value in Virginia at that time hood, and in deportment, manners and habits, he was solve to conquer or die. Our own and our country's bon- as we see from this and numerous other instances, where then, a man. Never was it known during his course in our all calls upon us for a vigorous and manly exertion, fines, &c. are estimated at so many pounds of tobacco. College, that he engaged in any thing low, vicious, or and if we now shamefully fail we shall become infamous Thus it is stated in enactment 35, that "the court shall contrary to true self-respect and elevated moral principle. to the whole world. Let us therefore rely upon the not take cognizance of any cause under the value of In the freaks of College boys, Daniel Webster never had goodness of our cause, and the aid of the Supreme Be- 200 pounds of tobacco, or twenty shillings sterling. any part. He was free from every vice. His moraling, in whose hand the decree is, to animate and incour- which a private justice may and is hereby authorized and character was unsullied, perfectly so. At first, he took age us to great and noble actions. The eyes of all our empowered to hear and determine." The following rank among the very best scholars in the class. This countrymen are upon us, and we shall have their blessings recipe for good order is contained in an enactment, endile rank he invariably held through all the studies of the and praises, if happily we are the means of saving them. tled Pillories to be erected at each Court:-In every various classics. In the Belle Lettre department, or the Let us therefore animate and incourage each other, and County the Court shall cause to be set up a pillory, a Fine Arts, he was decidedly the first scholar in the class, shew the whole world that freemen contending for pair of stocks, and a whipping-post and he equalled the best in the most solid branches. He liberty on their own ground are superiour to any slavish and a ducking-stool;-and the Court not causing the was a ready genius, and always attentive and punctual mercenary on earth. The General recommends to the said pillory, whipping-post, stocks, and a ducking soo to all classsical and college duties. He stood, among officers great coolness in time of action, and to the sol- to be erected, shall be fined 5000 pounds of tobacco to the first in the appointments for commencement. But diers strict attention and obedience, with a becoming the use of the public." with the appointments, he and some others were not well firmness of spirit. In those days the following provision was made for ex pleased. But never did he and others unite in any re

near the court house,

I would proceed to write more, but the drum beats. tending the elective franchise, which appears founded

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on a rational principle: Every county that will lay It was not long left doubtful. It came down slowly upon
out one hundred acres of land, and people it with Bagdad, pausing at Kerkook, where thousands of the
100 tytheable (taxable) persons, that place shall en- people fell before it. Yet with such distinct warning,
joy the like privilege" of sending a burgess. The bur- none at Bagdad thought of endeavoring, by sanitory
gesses, together with their attendants were free from ar- measures, to avert the pestilence from the city before it
rest, from the time of election till ten days after dissolu- came, or from their houses after it had come. The cus-
tion of the Assembly; this privilege, however, was some-tomary intercourse of traffic and of travel went on with-
what modified by several clauses. Every burgess was out restriction between the city which dreaded the plague
allowed during the sitting of the assembly "150 pounds and those places where it was known then to be ac-
of tobacco and cash per day, besides the necessary tually raging. Moslems in general regard all sanitory
charge of going to the Assembly and returning"-this precautions as measures of futile and wicked opposition
practice of paying legislators, which, in America origin-to that divine will which must be accomplished. And as
ated under the Colonial system, is still continued in the the pestilence, which visits Bagdad about once in ten
United States. It did not entirely cease in England years, had generally passed over it so lightly, that an ex-
until the reign of Charles II. Andrew Marvel, one of tensively destructive plague was a thing for garrulous old
the burgesses of Hull, was the last member of the age to talk of as an event which had happened some sixty
House of Commons who appears to have accepted the years before, each seemed disposed to trust to to his
wages which all were entitled to receive.
chance of being one of the many who escaped rather
than of the few that died. Death by plague is also re-
garded as a martyrdom; and these considerations com-
bined, resulted in that actual passiveness for which the
Turks are noted; while a degree of anxiety was at the
same time manifested, from which that singular people
are supposed to be exempt.

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was marching upon Bagdad with a firman from the su tan empowering him to depose the ruling Pasha, and oc cupy his place. Various parties therefore fixed them selves in the vicinity of the town, for the express purpose of plundering those who might endeavor to escape from the plague, and, if these were avoided, others—whole tribes-lay beyond, who had equally no fear of the Pasha before their eyes, and who, except from such fear would think no more of plundering a man of all he possessed than, to use his expression, of peeling an onion. This consideration prevented many from attempting to escape; aud many who were hardy enough to make the attempt soon returned, deprived of all they had taken with them even to the clothes they wore.

Few of those who did succeed in getting to some distance from Bagdad without being plundered, had much cause to congratulate themselves on their good fortune. The rivers Euphrates and Tigris are flooded twice in Among commercial restrictions we find an enactment each year; frst in the spring, from the melting of the prohibiting the planting of tobacco after the 10th of July, snows in the mountains of Armenia; and then, in au which was done for the improvement of our only tumn, from the periodical rains. This year the plague commodity, tobacco, which can no way be affected but had begun to assume its most terrible features, when the by lessening the quantity and amending the quality." rivers overflowed their banks in a manner without reThat the former effect might possibly be produced by corded or traditional example, laying the country, in the the enactment, without securing the latter, seems pretty About the middle of March, the plague was introduced lower part of their course, completely under water. certain. Another object that the government had in into the city by some people of Kerkook; and on the Many of those who were then on their way to other view was to compel the people to become silk-growers 29th of that month its presence was distinctly ascertain-places were drowned; a few found the means of returnagainst their will. Be it therefore enacted" says the ed by the medical officer attached to the British Residen- ing to Bagdad; and many who saw the waters gathering legislature, "that every proprietor of land within the cy, who, on a personal inspection of the persons report-around them, and equally precluding their progress and colony of Virginia shall, for every hundred acres of ed to be sick, found on them the glandulous swellings return, were enabled to retreat to some rising grounds, land holden in fee, plant upon the said land ten malber- by which the true character of the disease was indicated. where they established themselves, and waited many ry-trees at twelve foot distance from each other, and This gentleman (who himself was one of the earliest vic-most weary weeks till the subsiding waters allowed them secure them by weeding and a sufficient fence from cat-tims of the plague, in attempting to escape from it,) al- to return. Many of these parties were miserably thinned most despaired for the city when he saw the diseased and by famine and by plague; for they were able to obtain healthy crowded together in the same rooms: and, al- no supplies of food; and, by a most unaccountable inthough he felt that under proper measures the pestilence fatuation, persons who were escaping from the plague, might be confined to the quarter in which it then existed, in the contagious character of which they believed, did he could hope nothing when men went about, without not hesitate, on leaving Bagdad, to admit of their par restraint, from the chambers of the plague to the bazaars tics individuals then distinctly known to have that disand coffee houses. ease upon them. Many of the survivors, on their return to Bagdad, described in strong language the intense longing which was generally felt to return to lie down and die in their own houses.

tle and horses."

Tobacco fines, as usual, were enacted in case the planting and weeding were not duly performed; and further, there shall be allowed in the public levy to any one for every pound of wound silk he shall make, fifty pounds of tobacco, to be raised in the public levy, and paid in the county or counties where they dwell that

make it."

This act was passed in 1662, and probably continued in force for a long time; but Virginia did not therefore become a silk-growing country nor has it yet, though many parts are well adapted to raise this commodity. People, we presume, have hitherto found other things more profitable than silk.

The following enactment has a most barbarous charac. ter about it, not unmixed with something extremely ludicrous as to the idea of the legislature trying to prevent women from talking, "Whereas many babbling women slander and scanderlize their neighbors, for which their poor husbands are often involved in chargeable and vexatious suits, and cost in great damages:-Be it therefore enacted, that in actions of slander, occasioned by the wife, after judgment passed for the damages, the woman shall be punished by ducking; and if the slander be so enormous as to be adjudged at greater damage than 500 pounds of tobacco, then the woman to suffer a ducking for each 500 pounds of tobacco adjudged against the husband, if he refuse to pay the tobacco.

This old Statute book of Virginia is full of enactments such as we have quoted; some exceedingly mischievous, and others very ludicrous. It would, however, be unfair to say, that there are not also some good regulations in it.

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The population of Bagdad, at the commencement of
the plague, may be considered to have been somewhat
more than 80,000. Of this number 7000 perished in the
first fortnight; and this presented a daily average of mor- At Bagdad the waters were for some time excluded
tality equal to the maximum in plagues considered very by the walls of the town; but, ou the night of the 26th
bad and exceeded the maximun in that of Tabreez, it was of April, a part of the wall on the north-west side of the
not without reason, hoped that the rage of the pestilence city was undermined and fell. The waters then rushed
would then subside. It had scarcely commenced. At in, and overthrew in their career about 7000 houses,
the termination of the period mentioned carbuncles be- burying in the ruins nearly 15,000 persons, many of
gan to appear in the patients, and from that time the whom were sick or dying of the plague, besides a large
daily mortality increased with a rapidity truly frightful number of unburied dead. Those who escaped from
until, towards the end of April, it obtained the maximum, the immediate consequences of this fearful irruption,
as nearly as the comparison of different reports enabled withdrew to such parts of the city as remained entire or
us to ascertain, of little less than 5000; and at the termin- less ruined, where they were received into the houses of
ation of the calamity, it was computed that out of 70.000 their friends, or congregated, sometimes to the number
persons, (which allows more than 10,000 to have perish- of thirty, in the houses which the owners had forsaken,
ed from other causes, or to have escaped,) not less than or which the plague had desolated; and from the daily
50,000 were destroyed by the plague in the two mouths fall or partial ruin of single houses subsequently, the
of its duration. Although this can only be regarded as population was undergoing such a continual process of
an approximation, the desolate state in which the city condensation, until the subsidence of the waters, as
was left shows that the amount of mortality could not completely excluded the city from the benefit which,
have been much less, but very probably more.

This extent of destruction, which in proportion to the population, far exceeds that of any other plague of which authentic record remains, is not to be attributed to any peculiar virulence in the pestilential miasma, but rather to concurring circumstances, which in the first in. stance precluded the dispersion or escape of the people, and in the second, obliged them to congregate densely in particular parts of the city.

under ordinary circumstances, would have resulted from the reduced numbers of the population. The inundation is, therefore, to be regarded as the proximate cause of that unexampled amount of destruction which the plague effected.

It also resulted from this condensation of the popula tion, and from the deprivation of the usual resources for the disposal of the dead, that the sickening horrors

of a plague were accumulated tenfold before the eyes of In ordinary circumstances, large numbers of the the survivors. Burial places in the East are generally upper classes would have removed to Bussorah, Mosul without the town. These were, at Bagdad, laid under or Damascus, and the other towns; and the poor would water, and while the disposition and power lasted to have dispersed themselves in the open country. But at bury the dead at all, every open space-the streets, the this time the Arabs, scarcely at any time manageable, were yards of mosques and stables, were turned up to furnish emboldened by the knowledge that Ali Pasha of Aleppo graves. In a stable-yard, which the terrace of our house

overlooked, nearly a hundred graves were opened and filled in the course of one day and a half. It was a fearful thing to see the uncoffined dead brought in barrows, and on the backs of asses, and laid upon the ground till the graves were ready for them.

POPULATION OF THE CITIES AND PRINCIPAL TOWNS IN
THE UNITED STATES, ON THE FIRST DAY OF JUNE, 1840. Alton,
MAINE.

Bangor, Bath, Belfast, Brunswick,

Saco,

At this early period of the plague, the usual custom was generally observed of enfolding the bodies in cotton, Augusta, like mummies; but when cotton was becoming scarce and dear, the richest natives, in order to secure for themselves some of the honors of the grave, went in person to purchase their own winding sheets of the only man who then, at his own house, sold the cotton, and who on this occasion made immense profits which he did not live to enjoy.

Chicago, Galena,

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8,627

NEW JERSEY. Elizabeth,

4,470 St. Louis, · 1,843

16,469

FLORIDA.

4,184

Peoria,

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Quincy,

2,319 Tallahasse,

1,616

4,259 Paterson,

7,596 Springfield,

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MICHIGAN.

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9,102 DISTRICT COLUMBIA.

4,408 Trenton,
4,654

4,035

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PENNSYLVANIA.

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2,419 Georgetown,

7,312

205,850 Marshall,

8,417

8,410

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Hallowell,
Thomaston,
Portland,
NEW HAMPSHIRE.
Concord,
Dover,
Portsmouth,
Meredith,
Nashua,

MASSACHUSETTS.

Andover,
Boston,
Barnstable,

But, with the increase of mortality, both the power and inclination to inter the dead diminished. If the means of removal had existed, they would, I was informed, have forsaken their houses, leaving the accumu lated dead unburied in them; but this being precluded, Beverly, the dead bodies were put out into the streets, where Cambridge, they were greedily devoured by the lean and ravenous Charlestown, dogs which swarm in the cities of the East. He did much, then, who took the dead of his household to the river and threw them in.

My own observation does not confirm the statement, that the very young and very old, the feeble and unhealthy, fall the readiest victims of the plague. The plague at Bagdad was so far from being that

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6,458 Carlisle,

7,887 Allegany city,
3,351 Pittsburg,

6,054 Chambersburg,
Easton,

5,207 Pottsville,

93,383 York,

4,301 Erie,

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RHODE ISLAND. Cumberland, Newport, Providence city, Smithfield, Warwick,

From the earliest stages of the plague, the shops were closed, and all business of the city ceased. Even the water-carriers soon discontinued to serve their customers; so that such Europeans as had determined to shut themselves up in their houses were severely tried be tween the dread of introducing the contagion and the necessity of sending some of the household to fetch water from the river. Even the mosques were shut, and the sonorous voices of the muezzins, calling the people to prayers from the glittering towers of Bagdad, were heard no longer. If one looked into the street, instead of the bustling shopkeeper and artisan, the stately and long robed merchant and scribe, or the pleasant groups of people laughing, smoking, and telling tiles Norwalk, at the doors of their houses, he saw the dead and dying Saybrook, only,-unless a solitary individnal now and then appeared, bearing in his hand a bunch of herbs, an onion, or a rose, as a protection from contagion.

Bridgeport, Berlin, Fairfield, Danbury, Hartford, Litchfield, Middletown, New Haven, New London, Norwich,

3.239

4.865

1,763 Washington city, 23,364

4.351 A BRIEF HISTORY OF CHINA.-China is an empire 10,089 of Asia, the most populous and ancient in the world, be21,115 ing 1,390 miles long and 1,030 wide. Population from 300.000,000 to 360,000,000. The capital is Pekin, with 4.345 1,100,000 inhabitants, next Nankin, 100,000,000, and 4.779 Canton 1,000,000. China produces tea, 50,000,000 lbs. 3.412 of which are annually exported from Canton, the only 2.152 place which foreigners are allowed to visit. Silk, cot2,719 2,493 ton, rice, gold, silver, and all the necessaries of life, are 2.937 found in China. The arts and manufactures in many 2,718 branches are in high perfection, but stationary, as improvements are now prohibited. The Government is a 8,367 3,790 despotic monarchy. Revenue, $200,000.000; army, 2,737 800,000 men. The religion is similar to Budhism, the chief god being Foh. The Chinese inculcate the mor. 2,792 tality of Confucius, their great philosopher, who was 102,313 born 550 B. C. The great wall and canal of China are 5,182 7,197 among the mightiest works ever achieved by man. The foreign commerce of China amounts to $35,000,000 or 3,974 $40,000,000 annually, the whole of which is transacted 6,395 with appointed agents, called Hong merchants.' For 10,920 11,136 eigners are allowed to live at certain stations, or facto 6,477 ries' below Canton. The chief trade is with England. 20.153 The first American ship reached China in 1784; now 7,885 the annual average of United States ships visiting Can3,454 ton is 32. The revenue derived from foreign commerce 4,285 by the Emperor varies from $4,000,000 to $6,000,000. 2,244 According to Mr. Dunn, the opium smuggled into Chi4,744 na, to the injury of the people, amounted to $20,000,000 3,690 annually for several years past, much of which was paid 29,261 in specie, which found its way to London. The Chinese 4,340 language has nearly 40,000 characters or letters. The Chinese are eminent for agriculture, and once every 6,403 year the Emperor ploughs a piece of land himself in the 3,114 3.927 presence of his people.-Bicknell's Reporter. 2,095

NORTH CAROLINA.

GEORGIA

ALABAMA.

CONNECTICUT.

4,570

SOUTH CAROLINA. Charleston city,

3,411

Columbia,

4,504

3,654

Augusta city,

12,793

Columbus,

4,038

Macon,

7,210

Milledgeville,

14,390

Savant.ah,

5.519

7,239

Mobile,

3,863

3,417

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Natchez,

3,382

Vicksburg,

3,824

VERMONT.

LOUISIANA. Baton Rouge,

3,429

Lafayette city,

4,271

New Orleans,

3,725

NEW YORK.

Opelousas city, TENNESSEE.

Montpelier,

Albany,
Buffalo,
Utica,

As the season became warmer the rage of the plague abated: most of those who were attacked recovered, which had rarely before been the case; and, towards the end of May, about two months from its commencement, the pestilence was considered to have ceased. But the inhabitants were not allowed

The pressure of famine was also heavily felt, then and after. The inundation cut off the supplies from the Bennington, country, and nothing was bought or sold. No fresh Burlington, provisions of any kind could be had; and though the superior classes, having generally a stock of corn on hand, were preserved from absolute want, respectable persons came often to our door to beg a bit of bread, while the poor Arabs of the town endeavored to supply Rochester, their wants by breaking into the houses where they supLockport, posed provisions might be found. Plattsburg, Salina, Seneca, Schenectady, Troy, Rome, Williamsburg, Brooklyn, Catskill,

"To gather breath in many miseries;" for no sooner was this known to the officers of Ali Pasha, (who only waited for the cessation of the plague and the subsiding of the waters,) than they marched their troops down from Mosul to invest the miserable and desolated city.

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MISSISSIPPI.

KENTUCKY.

33,721 Nashville, 18.213 12,782 Frankfort, 20.191| Lexington,

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"In one of the first summers after their sitting down 10,706 at Plymouth, a terrible Drought threatened the Rain of all their summer's husbandry. From about the middle of 6,929 May to the middle of July, an extreme hot Sun beat up•

1.917

on the Fields without any Rain, so that all the Corn be 6,997 gan to Wither and Languish, and some of it was irrecov21,210 erably parched up. In this Distress they set apart a 2,741 Day of Fasting and Prayer; in the Morning of which Day there was no sign of any Rain, but before the Eve. ening the Sky was overcast with Clouds, which went not away without such easy, gentle, and ye: plentiful 6,071 Showers as revived a great part of their decayed Corn lor

3,977 46,338 2,329

6.048 a comfortable Harvest."..

"The Harvest which God 997 thus gave to this pious people, caused them to set apart 5,203 another Day for solemn Thanksgiving to the glorious 4,766 Hearer of Prayers."

3.272

2.692

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3,798 The SUPPLEMENT TO THE COURANT will be fut. 4 226 nished to those who do not take the poper, JOT ONE DOLLAR

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