19--ANTEDILUVIAN ANTIQUITIES. THE LOAN BANK however, had sent here ingots of gold and silver to this permission has been already granted to Mos THE BANK OF ASSIGNATS. The commission will now present to you more for those which, through long wear, cannot continge The principal employment of this establishment, than eighty millions (four millions sterling) of assig-in circulation; or to exchange large or small notes, in its present state, is to exchange new assignats nats, withdrawn from circulation, and paid into the as is required, or to deliver copper money. royal treasury on the loan of perpetual annuities, to be cancelled and burned. These are nearly the principal operations of the tional bank. The sacrifices which the government is The value of all the circulating property of Rus commission of the sinking fund. The effects they making to restore their original value, would be sia is still represented by the assignats of this na have produced, fulfil all the expectations formed of fruitless, if we were not well convinced that no new them, and effect all the purposes designed. The emissions are made, and that proper precautions system of loans on perpetual annuities, the intro-are taken against forgeries of this paper. duction of which into Russia, had appeared, to many dfficult to effect, is already, in a degree, nationalized dit of our assignats, are the charge and care of this among ourselves; while at the same time our stock-bank. These two conditions, so indispensable to the cre debentures circulate freely all through Europe, and maintain a general credit, an inappreciable advantage, which delivers us forever from the necessity of having recourse to the further emissions of paper money! We have already withdrawn 118 millions of paper roubles, and the imperial mint has issued in 1817 and 1818, about 43 millions of gold and silver roubles, (about two millions sterling only) a quantity which had not been coined in ten years at any time from 1762 to 1810. tion of its books, will convince you, gentlemen, that the law which forbids any new creation of assignats The report of this establishment, and the inspec is strictly observed. few in number, has drawn the attention and solici tude of government. It must be confessed that the The appearance of some forged assignats, though fabrication of our paper money, has not kept pace with the improvement in the mechanical arts, and that it had allowed too great facility for counterfeit. If an extraordinary exportation of all our produc-tablishment, which is providing notes of a new form tions in 1817, caused an influx of the precious me- which will be ready on the 1st July next, and will ing. It has been found necessary to form a new estals, though the same cause did not exist in the afford new facilities for circulation, last year, the subscriptions of foreigners to the loan made up this deficiency. The sudden influx of of public credit. In 18 months, the sinking fund specic, has satisfied the demand which some local has withdrawn 118 millions of assignats. Our sys Such, gentlemen, is the state of our establishments and temporary circumstances has caused for coin,tem of credit enjoys a general confidence. This demand is already sensibly diminished, and that for assignats, or state paper roubles, has increased; and thus have vanished all the debts that had arisen, on the progressive improvement of the value of our paper. of 357 millions of roubles in discount, and very con siderable capitals have been deposited in the loan The bank of commerce has transacted operations bank. Without dwelling longer on this subject; I shall fullest evidence, the correctness of the principles only add, that the resistance which is always more which have been made the basis of our system. These satisfactory results demonstrate, with the or less made to novel proceedings of this nature, These principles should remain unchanged; but exought to yield at last to the efforts of the govern-perience has shown the necessity for some meament, when instead of allowing itself to be led on by the illusions of a fictitious system, or into measures which may be called forced, it founds its operations on principles, whose justice and solidity are consecrated by the evidence of experience. [Here follows a report on the bank of Commerce, for mercantile discounts, with a capital to accrue of thirty millions, confined to discount with the paper money of the state, and not to issue its own notes, This bank receives deposites, allowing interest on them; discounts bills of exchange, and makes advances on merchandise. The deposites at interest in this bank, are already eighty millions. house. The sum of discounts has amounted to fifty millions of roubles. sures, in practice, whose application will most certainly insure to us the end proposed. charged you, gentlemen, to examine well all other The august founder of these establishments has and tend to the support of public credit, which we shall have the honor to submit to you in the course propositions of this kind, which may be designed, of this session; deign to be at once our judges and our fellow laborers, in carrying into effect his great designs for the good of our country. Antediluvian Antiquities. The receipts of this bank, for transfers of deno-ceived to have existed before the flood. For seveThe township of Middletown, N. J. is remarkable site, are accepted in payment of duties at the custom ral years the farmers have been in the practice of for the relics of animals and things that may be con from the stratum which underlays their arable soilenriching their lands with an earthy substance dug The rate of interest regulated by that on the ex-lent fertilizer, that the thin, poor and exhauster change, with a desire to reduce it, rather than pro- grounds of that region, have been, by being proper This material they call marl. It is such an excelfit by a high rate. of the inland country, by the operation of gypsum Almost every farm contains a plentiful supply of th ly dressed with it, rendered as productive as those The evident advantages of this establishment have induced several cities to solicit similar buretus; and invaluable article-and on many, the marl can be! procured abundantly in the several sections or fields of the same plantation. The inhabitants really possess the means of raising at pleasure the heaviest crops; for their industry, with the aid of the marl, is rewarded with manifold increase. Doctor Mitchell and Mr. Pierce, have lately reconnoitreed this interesting tract, and confirmed the accounts given of the abundant product in grass and grain, which follows the application of this fossil manure. The marl pits are replete with extraordinary things. Remains of animals, either extinct, or not now known to be alive, or not found in these parts, constitute a considerable part of the marl. None of them are petrified; but all are detached, and the pieces are in various states of decomposition, according to their situations and qualities. Belemites, five or six inches long-Gryphites, a pair of whose shells weighs between six and seven pounds; a small sort of zig-zag oyster, not more than an inch longvery distinct teeth of the famous animals of Maestreht with portions of the jaws annexed-several species of clams and cockles-bones belonging to whales, or to some kind of cetaceous creatures-Teeth and vertebrae of sharks—exceedingly curious baculites-are some of the animal remains, which the proprietors find by penetrating with the pick-axe and shovel, a few feet. They discover also various tools and implements, made by the hand of man. Fragments of clay pipes for smoking, have been repeatedly found. One of those received by Dr. Mitchill from Dr. Reynolds, is uncommonly curious, unusually large, and nearly entire. It is even said that metallic articles, such as buckles and tongs, have been, likewise, dug out of the marl pits. Bones, horns and teeth of land animals, are mingled in this jumble of materials which the marl pits afford. The horn of a deer, the tooth of an elephant, the thigh of a rhinoceros, tand the fragments of other skeletons, not so well ascertained as yet, show the admirable and unaccountable association of heterogenous substances deposited here. Such are some of the disclosures made in the beginning of these investigations. Every quarry that is opened, and every load that is removed, promises new and valuable additions. Thus, while the marl pits afford agricultural wealth to the proprietors, they will furnish a harvest equally abundant to the antiquary, the theologian, and the geologist. It is believed that the belt or zone containing this marl, reaches from the Hudson to the Delaware, in a direction parallel with the other great formations of North America, from N. E. to S. W. It is thought to be from two to five miles wide, beginning at the base of the Neversink Hills, near Sandy Hook, and ending between Bordentown and Burlington. The disclosures hitherto made in this region may be considered as in their commencement. There is a wide and inviting field for improvement, and such a spirit of research has gone forth, that there an be no doubt that both owners and laborers will preserve for deliberate examination, the rare and urious things they may discover. Old Times. From a London paper of 1798. Middle of the fourteenth century. Price of the quarter of wheat 3s. 3d. ■ 4s. Medium, 36. 8d. 22 days, a quarter of wheat. 20 days, a fat hog, two years old. 20 days, clothing for a year of a common servant of husbandry. 6 days, a quarter of beans or peas. 1 day, two gallons of ale. Middle of the fifteenth century. Price of a quarter of wheat, 5s. a 58. 64. 17 days, clothing for a year of a servant. 4 days, a yard of cloth, for a shepherd. Former part of the sixteenth century. 13 or 14 days, a quarter of malt. 7 days, 3 quarters of oats. 1 day, eight or nine pounds of beef, pork or veal. 1 day, seven pounds cheese, four pounds butter. About the middle of the seventeenth century. In Essex, the medium pay of a laborer (rated) was 13d. Price of wheat (per Fleetwood's Chronicon, p. 106) 40s. and of malt 248 per quarter, as estimated by the bishop. 37 days, a quarter of wheat. 4 days, two shirts for a man, made. Latter part of the eighteenth century. Pay of a laborer per day, 14d. Price of a quarter of wheat 42s. 6d. of malt 30s. 41 days, a quarter of wheat. 264 days, a quarter of malt. 96 days, a fat hog, fourteen score, at 8s. per score. 41 days, a flitch of bacon, six score, at 88. 1 day, less than a gallon of ale. 1 day, three pounds ordinary cheese-1 pound butter. 40 days, clothing for a year of a common servant of husbandry. Bank of England. From a London paper of May 27. Parliamentary paper.-An account of all distribu. tions made by the bank of England amongst the proprietors of bank stock, whether by money, payments, transfer of 51. per cent; annuities, or otherwise, under the heads of bonus; increase of dividend, and increase of capital, betwixt the 25th February, 1797, and 1st of May, 1819, in addition to the ordinary annual dividend of 77. per cent. on the capital stock of that corporation existing in 1797, including therein the whole dividend paid since June, 1816, on their increased capital; stating the period when such distributions were made, and aggregate amount of the whole: In June, 1799, 10 per cent. bonus in 5 per cents. the 1797 on 11,642,400 is 1,164,240 In May 1801, 5 per cent. bonus in navy 5 per cents. on 11,642,4001. is Im Nov. 1802, 3 1-2 per cent. bonus on 582,120 navy 5 per cents. on 11,642,4007. is In Oct. 1805, 5 per cent, bonus in cash on 11,642,400%. is In Oct. 1806, per cent. bonus in cash on 11,642,4007. is From April 1807, to April 1819, both inclusive: Increase of dividend at the rate 3 per Increase of capital at 251. per cent. is Dividend at the rate of 107. per cent. per annum on 2,910,6007. increased. capital, is 3 year's dividends, or 301. per cent. on 2,910,600/ is Aggregate amount of the whole Annual dividend payable on bank stock, in 1797, on a capital of 11,642,400l. at the rate of 71. per cent. per annum Annual dividend payable since June, 1816, and at present on a capital of 14,553,000l. at the rate of 101. per cent. per annum 4,365,900 "In our paper of Wednesday we published a return of the amount of the effects of chancery suitors at different periods. It is curious to trace the increase of these sums, In 1756 they were under three millions, and had scarcely exceeded four millions at the end of ten years (1766.)-In the next ten, the increase was above two millions and a half (1776.)-In the next above two millions (1786.) Thus in thirty years the total amount rose from 2,800,000l. to 8,800,0001.. The increase in the next ten years, from 1786 to 1796, was nearly six millions. From 1796 to 1806, above seven millions. But from 1806 to 1816 above ten millions. The 814,968 increase in the two years 1817 and 1818 is above one million and a half. The total amount is now above thirty-three millions and a half!" 873,180 1.11,933,460 1,455,300 Court of Chancery, in England. FROM THE PHILADELPHIA UNION. We Foreign Articles. GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND. State of the Navy. The earl of Darnley made some observations on the papers relative to the state We copy, to day, two curious articles from the of the navy, which had been lately laid on the table, London Courier, upon the subject of this growing but as his lordship spoke in a low tone of voice, and evil. Law,' says the Edinburg Review, is cheap the bar was very crowded, we could not correctly in America: In England it is better, in a mere pecu-hear what fell from him. From the perusal of the niary point of view, to give up forty pounds than to paper in his hand, he admitted that in no former contend for it in a court of common law; and, in the period of our naval history did the navy appear on court of equity, it is better to abandon five hundred, the whole to have been in a state of greater efficien or a thousand pounds, than to contend for it. cy in time of peace. He spoke strongly in appro mean to say nothing disrespectful of the chancellor, bation of the exertions of Mr. Seppings, whose imwho is an upright judge, a very great lawyer, and provements had been of great advantage. Notwithzealous to do all he can; but we believe the court of standing the praise which he thought generally due chancery to be in a state, which imperiously re-to the admiralty, there were some particulars with quires legislative correction. We do not accuse it of any malversation, but of a complication, formality, entanglement, and delay, which the life, the wealth, and the patience of man cannot endure.' Mr. Broughan, in his recent pamphlet upon the abuse of characters, relates an anecdote of lord Erskine, which conveys the keenest satire upon the law's delay' in the chancery court. Some dispute arose as to the mode of redress to be pursued by one of Erskine's clients. The judge said, let him go into the court of equity.' Erskine answered, in an artless tone of voice which made Westminster hall ring with laughter, would your lordship send a fellow creature there?' SUITORS IN CHANCERY. that respect to the state of the navy, which he thought it right to notice, as they might be of importance in case of the country being involved in a contest. He could not overlook the naval power of another cont try-he meant the U. States of America, which the events of the late war had tended to raise to a state of consideration. It appeared from the papers, means had been taken for building ships of large dimensions, corresponding with those of the same rate built by other powers. It was known that the American two deck ships were superior to those of the same rate, built in this country, both as to guns and men. He did not, however, think that it would be advisable to have all the British navy raised to the same scale. It appeared to him that to attempt such a measure, would be only a useless waste of money. The American frigates were of a very superior class, compared in the scale on which British frigates had formerly been built, but he could not think it necessary that all the British frigates should henceforth be built on so enlarged a scale. He thought it would be better to build frigates of a size between those formerly fitted out by this coun 1 try and the American frigates: This seemed the more advisable, as the latter could not be expected 4 to be very numerous. The following is a return of the total amount of the effects of the suitors in the high court of chancery, in the years 1756, 1766, 1776, 1786, 1796, 1806, 1816, and 1818, as laid before the house of com 6 8,848,535 7 11 Lord Melville expressed his acknowledgments to the noble lord for the candid and handsome manner in which he had spoken of the state of the navy. He concurred in the propriety of this country building The fleet off Peru consists of eight vessels—of 60, 54, 48, 22, 20, 20, 16 and 14 guns. Another corvette ship had sailed to join it. THE PLAGUE. At Tangiers the plague had nearly ceased-at Teutan 997 persons died of it in 13 days, At Fez it was carrying off 600 persons a day-at Salee 80 to 100-at Alcassar from 50 to 70. It had declined at Rabat, Mequinex, and Larache. Morocco and Mogadore were reputed healthy. ships on a scale similar to those with which our navy might propably have to contend. It was the duty of the legislature to look forward to the future, and to be prepared to maintain, on any emergency, that naval greatness and supremacy which the country had acquired. With respect to the dimensions of ships of war, it is true that some were building on a scale considerably beyond what had formerly been thought proper for the same rate. He did not, however, think that all the two deckers of the navy ought to be raised to that scale. Many vessels were wanted for convoy and other purposes in time of war, and frigates and ships of the line might be so employed, though not constructed on so large a scale as those of other powers with which the coun-gold, was recently deposited in the bank of Missouri, by gen. Thomas A. Smith, receiver of public motry might happen to be at war. nies at Boon's Lick. CHRONICLE. "Land office money"-the sum of $37,069 66 in "The court!" A Liverpool paper announces the arrival at that place of Don Onis, and suite, "late Spanish minister at the court of Washington."Court of WASHINGTON !!! At the same time that he did not concur with the noble earl in his opinion, that it would be proper to build ships of an intermediate size between that scale hitherto adopted in the navy and that of other countries. He did not think it right to place the officers of the British navy in a situation which would compel them to go into action with a great disparity of force. Were ships of the description the noble earl suggested to be built, it would be a class different from any either in the navies of Europe, or of the United States of America. The officers of the British navy would therefore be placed in ships of a kind with which it was not probable Iron. A vessel has arrived at Philadelphia, from they would ever have the opportunity of encounter-London, with 70 tons of patent cast iron pipes, for ing. Lord Darnley explained. After which the papers were ordered to be printed. SPAIN. Erie. The want of a good harbor, easy of access for vessels of considerable size, is much to be desired on lake Erie. The harbor at Erie is good, but the bar at its entrance seriously affects its utility. We learn that major Anderson, of the corps of enand twelve miles of the adjacent coast, with a view gineers, is now engaged in surveying this harbor, to its improvement and security. the water works of that city! Law case. A priest at New York, brought an action against one of the vestry of his church, for scandal. It appeared that the vestryman had done The "grand expedition"-six ships of the line, nothing more than shew a zeal to investigate the eight frigates, several sloops of war, &c. &c. with truth of certain charges against the priest for lewd18,000 men, was expected to be ready for sailing ness and the robbery of a church; and here the matby the 1st of the present month. A French squad- ter rested. The court very properly decided that ron of one frigate and six brigs, had joined this ex-it was the duty of the vestryman to do this, and the pedition, and were to sail under the Spanish flag. plaintiff was non-suited. The crew of the patriot privateer Constitution, The Chochaw Indians. The missionary establishcaptured off Tariffa, had arrived at Cadiz, and were ment among the Cherokees at Brainard having greatplaced in the dungeons. The Spaniards it was ly prospered, has encouraged the formation of ancsaid would be pardoned, but the foreigners exe-ther at Yellow Busha, for the instruction of the The men was chiefly composed of citizens cuted. of the U. States. A Spanish brig, the Volunteer of 14 guns, fought the Buenos Ayrean brig Independencia, of 18 guns, three hours, off Cape St. Vincent, and defeated her! Both vessels appear to have suffered much. The Volunteer lost 18 men. Choctaws, where a school is already opened, under the care of some humane and pious persons, male and female. We cannot but admire the heroism of these people in taking up their home in the woods, to associate only with the rude sons of the forest, for the purpose of instructing them in morals, religion and the arts. One of them writes to his friends in New Jersey about the wants of the people under his The Niagara Patriot mentions, that the celebrat-care, who are bad off for apparel-and he asks ed Mr. Gourlay has been removed from an upper where are the friends of the missions?" We anroom to one of the cells in Niagara jail. CANADA, SOUTH AMERICA. swer, it is not fashionable to do a good thing for home use, no more than to use home-made goods, We have a variety of accounts from Buenos Ayres though better than the imported-for we see that by a late arrival, The truce with Artigas had been while these missions to our own poor Indians so renewed for three weeks; that chief was said to much want support, we have various societies, rich have entered Brazil, and to be driving in the Por-in funds, to assist similar establishments in other tuguese. The anniversary of the evacuation of Bue-parts of the world! For instance, there is now before nos Ayres by the British, after the complete beat-us a list of contributors to the "foreign missionary ing they received there, was celebrated with great society" of New York, "since the last publication," pomp. The new constitution, (said to be liberal, and which we shall publish entire when received) was publicly proclaimed and sworn to by the officers, in ample form, and the people seemed to feel like freemen. The new director had not yet been elected. The Spanish general Osorio, so severely defeated at Maipo, is reported to have collected two thousand men, and to have been advancing into the province of Conception. The supreme director of Chili, by a public decree, has ratified the blockad ing proclamation of "our admiral lord Cochrane." shewing an aggregate of donations amounting to $1,643 77-which is to be charitably bestowed on East Indians, perhaps, or even Kamschatkadales, because we have no occasion to instruct any persons nearer home! Foreign coins. Agreeably to a law passed at the last session of congress, no foreign gold coin will be a legal tender after the 1st November next; nor will any foreign silver coin, except Spanish dollars, and parts thereof, be a legal tender in the U. States, after April 1, 1821. «Piracy" and "more piracy." We are disgusted with seeing these words in the newspapers. The sea seems to swarm with robbers pretending to be "patriots." Sea serpent! We have a fresh report about this supposed animal on the eastern coasts of the United States. "Seeing is believing; but feeling has no fellow."-Catch him! Though I conde.nn the act in which he was detected, I equally condemn the principle on which he is detained." Yet remaining! John Adams, Charles Carron, William Ellery, William Floyd, and Thomas Jefferson, signers of the declaration of independence, and Charles Phompson, the memorable secretary of the revolutionary congress, are yet living to behold the fruits of their mighty effort. Whale fishery. In the decline of commerce generally, we are pleased to learn that much additional capital is vested in the whale fishery, carried on from the ports of the United States. It is a healthy business, and a great nursery of seamen. Mediterranean squadron. While our little fleet Separation of Maine. The election authorised by the legislature of Massachusetts to ascertain the sentiments of the people of Maine, on a separation, agreeably to the terms proposed, has been held. The returns are not all yet received; but so far as they are at hand, they shew that about three-fourths of the voters are in favor of separation, and the act will be carried into effect, as soon as duly rati-lay at Naples, the emperor of Austria and king of fied, the consent of congress being obtained. Naples, are said to have dined on board the Franklin Te.cas. We have more rumors of the expedition 74, com. Stewart, We wish the sovereigns to be against Texas-one letter says "it is reported acquainted with us through such observation of that gen. Ar, of the American army, is to take our means to make ourselves respected. Our squa the command." We do not know who gen. A- -r,dron was at Gibraltar about the 1st of July. Jona"of the American army' is. than Russel, esq. and his family, was also at that place seeking a passage home. the name of FRANKLIN disgraced--a name superior to that of any prince or potentate whatever. Distance. In a country like our's, it is delightful to observe the progress of knowledge over dis- Etiquette. It has been asked, whether com. Stetance-roads, bridges and canals, steam boats and wart, when the emperor of Austria and king of Naimprovements in common vessels and navigation, ples dined on board his ship, sat down at the table with the power of mind in every way directed to with his guests? We are not informed on this subthe purpose, has within a very few years as it were ject--but relying upon the proud feelings of an drawn the most widely separated places together, American, venture to say that he did, and at the and the "back woods" has almost become an obso-head of the table, too. If not, we shall consider lete term, though so familiar to all persons a little while ago. We are led to these remarks by observing that gen. Brown had arrived at Detroit in Revenue of the city of New York.-From May 1817 the schooner Tiger, in about 4 days and 2 hours to May 1819, was 8682,819. Expenditures $671,374. from Green Bay, a distance of 700 miles, 21 hours of of which $163,000 were expended for opening and which were spent in a stoppage at Mackinac! The improving streets; 65,000 on docks and slips; 2400 gen. left Detroit the next day in the steam boat for on pumps and wells; almshouse and penitentiary, Buffalo. 105 000; watch 50,000; lamps, 25,500; fire departShip building. The keel of a frigate of the largments, 11,700; police office, 6000; county continest class, was laid at Washington city, on Monday gents, 28,800; special inprovements 15,700. last. The frames of two such ships are collected Zinc.-It is stated in the New-York papers, that zinc is used in that city for covering houses, in there. Emigration. We have not this week listed the place of slate, &c. It is represented in an advervessels which arrived in the United States with fo-tisement as "infinitely superior to slate, as it makes reign passengers-but suppose the amount of emi-a perfectly tight roof, requires no repairs, and is by grants to have been nearly 1500-a considerable far more durable, while the expenses of a building number of whom were Germans. covered with zinc are less than those of one covered with slate." A pair of dunces agreed to shoot at each other, a few days ago, near Frankfort, Ky. one was a young Virginian, the challenger, the other a printer. The first was instantly killed on the spot, and the other very badly wounded. General Greenē. The corporation of Savannah are about to pay a handsome mark of respect to the remains of this celebrated officer of the revolution -the man that Washington desired to succeed him, in case of a casuality to himself. Allegiance. The following letter from St. Thomas, dated June 7, has just been published in the newspapers— DISTRIBUTION OF CALORIC-JUNE, 1819. 92-18th 54-2nd 64-7th Wooster, 77.51 97-29th ner county, Ten. 74-84 Savannah, These seven positions are within an area of about 9 degrees of latitude and 7 of longitude. The mean temperature of the month differed but by 9. 16. In six of these places the greatest heat, and in five the least beat, was on the same days nearly. Wooster is situated near the sources of rivers which are discharged into lake Erie and into the Ohio, reaching the ocean by the St. Lawrence and the Mississippi: it is, probably, higher above the level of the ocean, and it was also cooler than either of the other positions. J. M. "Since addresssing you yesterday the British sloop of war Fly has arrived here with capt. William R. Mason, on board a prisoner. The circumstances under which capt. Mason was taken are as follows: it is generally understood that he was concerned as one of the owners of several privateers or pirates in this neighborhood. Though not on board, he was taken in the act of transporting negroes from a General land office, July 27. Guineaman, prize to one of his schooners, and is Charleston, July 18.-A large snake was this mornnow detained on the principle of his being a Bri-ing seen on the roof of three story brick building tish subject, although he is a naturalized American in Church-street, near Elliott-st rect. He succeeded citizen and has resided in Baltimore, where he has in eluding the vigilance of his pursuer, who was a family, about twenty years. Perhaps the interfer-armed with a double-barrel gun, and still maintains ence of his friends might operate in his favor, his lofty position. |