ERIC AN e My AL H. B.'; MASSES, EDITOR AND P11QPHIET0R. OFFICE, MARKET STREET, OPPOSITE THE POST OFFICE. 1 jTnmny ilttospaptvDcVotta to JJoUUcs, JLficratuve, itiotauiy, ifotclflii ana Domestic sictus, sclent aitH the Elvts, ftorf culture, jUiu&eis, CTmuscmnus, rc NEW SERIES, VOL. 7, NO. 7. SUNBU11Y, NOllTll UM iiJiHLAND COUNTY, l'A., SATURDAY, MAY 13, 1SC.4. OLD SERIES, VOL. 14, NO. S3 mm if W AL TERMS OF THE AMERICAN. IE AMKRICAM li published every Saturday hi TNU UULI.AKS per milium lo be paid half yearly in pnii?"C- PT" discontinued until tu arrearages ere All eommuiticntinn, or tetters on business relnting to ""W"! w insure attention, mual be l'USi FAID. . ' TO CLUBS. Three copies to one address, SJ5 00 Seven D j)0 1(1 (10 Ulteeu Do Do : - 9(1 (XI t ive dollars in advance will pay for three yeai's sub scription to the American. One Snunae of 19 linea, 3 liinea, Ktsery aulmeqnent iiMertion, tine Square, a mouths, . . 8n mouths, One year, Hnainem Cflrdi of Five linea, per annum, Mou hanta and others, advertising hy the year, with the privilege of inserting different advertisements weekly. f 7 longer Advertiaementa, aa per agreement. 100 83 3(0 SMI euo 300 10 00 H. B. MA3SEP.,- ' ATTORNEY AT LAW, EUNBTJRY, PA. Business attended to in tlie Counting of Nor thumberland, Union, Lycoming and Columbia. Refer toi . P. & A. r.ovoudl, "1 Lower & Barron, 1 Somer & Snodgrass, rkilad. Reynolds, Mcf arland & Co., I Spering, Good dc Co., J HENRY D0NNEL, ATTORNEY AT LAW. Office opposite the Court House, Sunbury, Northumberland County, Pa. Prompt attention to busiuess in adjoining Counties. WM. M. ROCKEFELLER, ATTORNK1T AT LAW MI . fir 51 Y, BM. Pec. n, i8.i.--tr. M. L. SHINDEL, ATTO?.lTE7 AT LAW, SUNBURY, PA. December 4, 1852. tf. DOCTOl. 1. Y. HUGHES, OFFICE on Broadway, near tlio Episconal Churoli, Sunbury. SunJiury, May H, 1S53. tf. , . N. M. Xewnam's Realty's Row, Norwegian street, Fottsv.lle, Penna. PliiBiibiiis Imp, nAS CONSTANTLY ON HAND A SUP ly of all aizea of Lead Pipe. Sheet Lead, Block Tin. Uatli I'libs, ShowerUiilli", Hydrants, lloae, Double and Singta Acting Pumps and Wa ter Closets; also; nil kinds of Brass Cocks for water and steam. Brass Oil Cups, and Globes for Engines. All kinds of Copper Work nnd Plumbing done in the neatest manner at the sliorlest notice. N. I). Cash paid for old Brass and Lead. Pottsville, Aug. 27, 1853. ly i. a. iWTt;iTi4c., I) o o r., 15 1 i n d , S i u 1 1 e r, AND SASH DEPOT, East Side of liroaii Street, bdow Wood, Philadelphia. WHERE may be found, constantly on hand, an extrnaivo assortment of Doors, iSasli, Blinds, Shutters and Mouldings, warranted equal to any that can be made. Also, Sash ready slazcd, always on hand Jrdersbv mail or despatch will receive prompt attention. - Phila., March 25, 1854. 3m. YM. M'CAltT Y, liOOKSKLLUa, Market Street, SUNBURY, PA. Ti;ST received and fur sale, a fieaU supplr of for Singing Schools. He is also opening ot Ibis time, a large assortment ol Hooks, in every branch of Literature, consulting of Poetry, History, Novels, Romances, 8cientific Works, Law, Medicine, School and Childron'a Books, Bible ; School, Pocket and Family, both with anil without Engravings, and every of vari ety of Binding. Prnyer Book, of all kinds. Also just received and for sale, Purdons Di gest of the lows of Pennsylvania, edition of 1851, price only $6,00. . Judge Heads edition of Blackstones Commen taries, in 3 vols. 8 vo. formerly sold at $10,00, and now offered (in fresh binding) at the low price of 20,00. A Treatise on the laws of Pennsylvania re specting the estales of Decejents, by Thomas F. Gordon, price only $4,00. Travels, Voyages and Adventures, all of which will be sold low, either for fash, or coun try produce. February, SI, 1852 ti. Shamokiu Town Lots. milF subscriber is now prepared to exhibit and -1- dispose of Lots in the new Town-Plat of Phamokin. Persons desirous of purchasing can ascertain the terms and conditions of sale by calling on the subscrilier, at Shamokiu. WM. ATWATER, Agent. Shamokin, Oct 15, 1853 tf. LEATHER. FRITZ k HENDRY, Store, 29 N. 3d street PHILADELPHIA Morocco Manufacturers, Curriers, Importers, Commision and General Leather Business, WHOLESALE & RETAIL, tQ" Manufactory 15 Margurvtli Street. Phila., August 20. 1853. ly. LAWRENCE HOUSE, SUNBURY, PA. . rjHE subscriber respectfully informs the public X . that she still continues to keep the above Darned public house, and that she has engaged Mr. Weiaer Ziegler to superin'end the same. She has a Wo received a new supply of good liquors and wines, aud trust that she will he able lo give aatiafactioo to all who may visit ber house. , MARIA THOMPSON. Sunbury Match 4, 1854 if. nARDWAKE, Nails, etc., llooU, bhoee, Hals, CaMt, Cedar ware, llroums, Uruabea, r ( Uoui Uovks and paper just icsived and fur sale by I- W.Tk'NEH it CO. , Sunbury, April t, 15 SHOES An kind of llool Hhiw and slip per for sale by u. i.i.eu(.nu a i u, Market street, opposite Ihe Post Otoe, atuiibury, Oct , 1153 ! THE FAR-FAMED MEDICINE! IIOI.LO WAY'S 11 LLS. Three Villa beinir composed entirely of metlieinnl herbs "are of a iitnat liannla nature, while the extraordinary vir tnea they pusses huve rendered them univera-illy popular in nearly every port of the world. The immense success they huve met wilh through lUt the Glutei ia most extra ordinary, mvimr, It la presumed, to Iheir woiideiful eifU'ticy in the cure of Milious coinpluiutsaud dianrdera ot the I.iver and rt. n.ach. I'ers.nis who persevcte in Ufiiif; thrm in ticcordunce with the directions, seldein fail in heing restored to hrnlth. WKAKNKSS AM) Di:HII.rrV, HETOIlATKlN TO HEALTH OK A OENTI.KM AN AGKD45, IVHKM ATDUATll'S UOOK. Copy of a Letter from the licv. Charles Smith, dated Norton, St. Fhilips, near lialh, Somer setshire, llth August, 1853. To lrofesr Hoi.lowat, Bir. A .Mr. J.aeph fnxton, formerly a rriidonl of thia nlnre. hud been III a declining Male of health for unwinds of three yvara. arnilnslly wviatinc atrny to a shadow by hiyhily prespirariona and want of a(ieli(e, which enmrd gie itn nrusini'ii!. to bin i'i iend. aa he hud con.ullud variout medi.al men in Unh without eHei'1. He at hlt ned your I'illa. and under providriice. waa realorrd lo health by their tneana. He lately emigrated to New Yotk. nnd luiajii.t written to aav. rial he wna never belter in health, anil de aired me to arrjunint y 'U with the eirrnmitnnre. I ought alio to mention, th;rt mv wife had derived great benefit from the ae of your Pilla. I remain. Pir. vurt reapeetfully, CH Alt LKS SMI I'ILDiiwenling Miniater. A PERMAXRVT CURE or A WSEA'JIW IJVF.R OF .MANY YEAltS' DURATION. Copy of -a Letter from Mr. Gamis, Chemist, Yeovil, to F, ofessor ltolloway. . Dear Sir In this dintrict your Pilla command a mare extensive eale than any oilier pr-prietary meilielne liefore the public. Aa u prool ot tlieir e'.liriiry in l.iverauu itinous Complaint I may mention the following ease. A hidy ol' thiat.iwn wilh w'hoinl am persniinlly neipiniuted, lor years was a severe mitferer from disease of the Liver and digos tive omnia: her inedienl attendant assured her that he emld do nothing to relieve her suHVriiics, and it was not ike v she c uilit survive many month. 1 Ins nnn'Uineemeiit iialitmlly caused great alarm among her friends and rela tions, nnd they induced her to make a trinlof yiair Fills, wliieh ao imin-'Vifil hei prnrnil health that she was induced to continue Ibem until she received a perfect cure. ' Tail ia twelve in nillis ujt'i, und she has not experienced any syntptmis uf relapse, nil. I nfien declirea Unit your Flits have Ih'cu ( tie mean ot savnn; tier lite. 1 rcmam. t)e:.r Sir, your trrtiv, July 23d, 1? 33. (Signed) J. GAMES. These celebrated Fills are vnndeifulhj epila tions in the folloteius complaints. Airuc Iln)SV Inll-imtiiatioii Asilnna Jiysent;try Jaundice . ; Hdious Cnmpl-'iiuts Krysii'cbm l.iver t'lan- tfloU'tics on tJie l- cintue trrcgn- i-niuhb Skin laritie I.iiinlwgj B wel Complaint Fcveis of all . Files Colics kinds HhenrtCTthm Constipation of Fits lictention of the U iwela (lout trine Coninmpti.'ii llend-nebe Pcorhila. or Debility Indigestion Kinff's F.vil " 're Throats plone and Gravel Bedanlnry Tic J.ul aireux I'tunours Symptoms fleers Venerenl Afleefioits IVorinsol all wans Venkncsa. from whatever cnuse Ac, Ac. &lrt at the Establisltmenl of 1'rolesa.ir Hollowat. 214 Si rand, (near Temple Bar, London,) and ulsj ul h' House in .Aew orK. tinlcrs lor Aieoieines in me ;-iiiieH, numtn at'd 'T. Ilollownv New York,' will receive due attention S )id als i by all respectable Drtmisls nnd Dealers in Minl ieines lllroucli lit the I'tiitcd Slates, in llxes at 37 cauls, BT cents, and ?l .fltl cent each To be had Wholesale of the priiiciiml Drue Houses in the Union. - J ' There is a considerable saving by taking the larger f'-t b. V - Directions for the milkmen of patients in every d o'ei are ullixed to each ln'X. December 21, IMS, ly. ' ORPHANS' COURT SALE. IJUIISUANT to a tlecri'e of tho Orphans' Court of Norlimiiibeii.iit l counly,' l'fitn nylvania, nuule on lliu third tiuy of April, 1854, the uiidoreionod William H. Marfhall, Guardian of Laura Viel, a minor child of Jo sephine Uoiistjuel .Viel, late of Bonleaux) in t'ranre, tlecM., will expose to s:ile by public vriuliiH, and will kII, on Fridiiy I lie Iweuly ,ixlh day of M.iy, 1854, at 10 o'clock in the forenoon, at I he house of William M. Wea ver, Innkeeper in llie !own of Shainnkitt, Niirlhumbetlitiiil fotinly afoter!iid, llie timli vided inlereiil of ihe said Laura Viel, a minor, whatever lite Fame may be (beina one equal undivided twriily-foiiilh part or share, mora or loss,) in Twenty Five certain Tracts of Lund, lo wit : in all that part of Ihe lands embraced within the said twenty five tracts, -which ia niiuate in the county of Northumberland, Being twenty five certain tracts of land which were patented to one Richard Soders trom, by twenty livo Several tellers patent, dated respectively the nineteenth nnd iwou lie.lh ilajsof Match, 17D5. enrolled in Patent Book No. 23 and 24, and were by Ihe raid Utchurd hoderslrom, . by ileeil . ualeU tne twenty second day of April 1795, recorded in Norihuinbeilauij counly in Deed Book K, page 359, &c, granted and conveyed unto James Oilier, Au'iadus Buiisquut, John Hour, quet, nnd Henry Lnwis Dnpastiuier, their liens and ns.-ius, aa leuants in common, aim imt a joint tenants, Hnd were then situale in Muhaiiov township, Northumbetland county, now pailly in Northumberland county, ami partly in Schuylkill couuy, Pennsylvania, nnd were surveyed on warrants grnnled lo the following na tried persons, ami contain ac cotdina to the ollicial survey thereof, respect lively, ail folluws, to wit : John-D.ur 'i'J'J acres and allowance ; John Did 444 acres and allowance; Maty Dair 3S2 acres ami allowance : Peler Darr 400 acres and allow ance ; Luke Darr 385 acres nnd thtee qnar ters and allowance; Smith Evans 390 acres and allowance ; Luke rile 3JU acies and al lowance ; William Harrison 414 acres and allowance; John Hoglin 202 acres and a half aud allowance ; Luke Hoslm 406 acres ami a quarter and allowance ; -Hubert liwin 414 acres and allowance ; Luke Boyle 407 and a half acres and allowance ; Abiyal Lukius 430 acres aud three quartets and allowance; Robert Poor 393 acres and allowance; John Smith 410 ncres and a quarter and allowance ; Luke Smith 438 acres and a half nnd allow ance ; Robett Smoke 398 acres and a quarter and allowance ; Abisal Smith 347 acres and allowance; Robert TiJ 375 acres and three miarleia and allowance; Luke Fuller 450 acres aud a quarter and allowance; Smillr LukeimJsl acres and a quarter ami allow, auce : John Housed 345 ncres and three qnar ters aud allowance; John Meadliug 376 acres and allowance ; Jeremiah Jackson 390 acres and allnwauoe and Mary Smilh 4(1 acres and a quarter and allowance and containing in ihe whole, nine thousand eiht hundred and I went v nine and a ball acres, and allowance The rale lo be fur Ilia beat price that can be had for Ihe same, ami lor rash, lo te paid at thj confirmation ol i lie salo. 1 . WILLIAM 11. MARSHALL, Guardian By order of the Court, J. P. PUUSEL, Clk. O. C. Sunbury, April Si, 1854.- DOCTOR JOSEPH W. CAMERON, 1 ) Kctl'KCTl'LLLY inform llie eitixens of the Uorough of Sunbury ami vicinily, Uial he ha iwrtnauuiilly located hiuisrlf in said Uorouiih ami uller bis uroioMioual st'rvir to tlioae wue way wilt la employ linn, t ot tin pi.Mui a cau l loutul at Weaver Hotel. SiMibury, March 1 1. 1854 It H AIIII.S Dint Gjuda. Murine aud Muininsi J Shswla, UUck and fancy thru Silk, Silk luoia, vv x-aiiiee, PUally. liiiiRliams slid I ull ruin frra, ytiiety, jm4 recei..d and fur Ml "y I. W. TL.NEK it CO. Biiubury, April tt, IHbi, ; ' ORPHANS' COURT SALE. '; 1JURSUANT lo a decree of the Orphans Court of Northumberland county, Peiiii? sylvnnin, tnflde On tin! third day of Aptil, 1854, the uridersiittted William H Marshall, Guuiilinii nf Cecilu Viel, a minor child uf Josephine Bousquel Viel, hue uf Bortleaux, in France dee'd., will expose In SHle by pub lic vendue, and will sell on Friduy the twenty sixth dny ol May, 1854, at 10 o'clock in the forenoon, at l he house nf William M. Wea ver, Innkeeper, in Ihe town of Sliamokiti, NorlhumbetlHitd rotinly nforesiiid, Ihe undi vided interest cr the said Ceeile Viel, n mi nor whatever Ihe same maybe (being one equal undivided twenty fourth part or share, more or less) in twenty five certain Tracts of Land, to wit : in all that pari of the lands embraced willtin the snid twenty five tracts, which H siltiale in the County nf Northumberland, Heine twenty five certain Tracts of land which were jnilenled to one Richard Soder stroni, by twenty five several letters patent, dated respeclively the ninleenth and twen tieth days of March 1705, emullrd in Patent Rooks No 23 and 24, nnd were by the snid Richard Sodersirorn, by Deed dated (he twenty second day of April 1795, recorded in Not I h it Tiberlanil county, in Deed Book K, page 359 &o. erauled nod conveyed nnlo J.imc Odier, Augustine lSonsqtiet, John Rous quel und Henry Lewis Dopesquier, Iheit heirs nnd fissions, as leunnts in common, nnd not as joint tennnts, ami were then situate in Mahauoy township, Notthumberlaud counly, now partly in Nrjhumbeilaud county, and partly in Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania, and were surveyed on wat tents Riauted to Ihe following mimed peisous, and contains, nccordmij to tho oflicial tqiivey thereof re speclively, lis follows, to wit : John Darr 399 acres nnd allowance ; John Did 444 nctes nnd allownnee ; Mary Dirr 382 ncres nnd allowance) ; Peler ).ur 400 ncres nnd allow ance J Luke D.irr 385 ectes and three qnar leis ami allowance ; Smith Keens 390 acres ami allowance; Luke File 3;;tt acres and al lowance ; William H.irilon 411 acres and allowance; John Hnulin 202 ncres and a half and allowance ; Luku llooljn 4 0G ncres and a quntter and allunnnr.'; Unbetl Irwin 414 ncres nnd allowance; Luke Hoj le 407 ncres ami a half nml allownnee; 'Abiiil Lukemi 430 acres ami three quarters nnd allownnee; Robert Poor 393 nctes nnd allowance ; John Smith 410 us-res and h qua Her nnd allowance ; Luke Smilh 438 ncres nnd n half nnd allow ance; Robert Smoke 398 acres nnd a quar ter and allownnee ; Abigail Smilh 347 ncres and allowance ; Robert Tid 375 ncres nnd three quarters end allownnee, Luke Fidler 450 acres nnd n quarter anil allowance ; Smith Lukeiis 48larres nnd n quarter and allow ance ; John Ilnusel 345 ncres and three quar tets anil allowance ; John Meatlling 36 acres and allowance ; Jeremiah Jackson 390 acres nnd allowance ami Mary Smith 411 acres nnd a qnarler nnd allowance and cnnlainitm in the whole nine thousand . eialit hundred nnd twenty nine nnd a half acres and allowance. The Sale to be for the best price lhat can be had for Ihe sime am! for cash to be paid at tho cotifiimnlinn of the snle. WILLIAM H. MARSHALL, Guardian. Ry order nf the Court, ly order nf the Court, ) PCKSEL. Clk. O. C. lunhnry, April 22, 1854 ) Wall Papers ! Wall T'ajicrs ! Ml HE subscribers have now in store their com- A pletc spring stock of Paper Hangings, Curtains, &c, which they offer at very low prices, WHOLESALE AND RFTATL. Onr assortment is very complete, comprising all the qualities, both . : French nntl American. .We manufacture a liirso proportion of our goods and can sell tit llie. lowest rales. CT I ii per Jlanuijj douo in lliu country at citv prices. l'A KKlSti ft HOI Gil, No. 4 North Firm street, Pbiladclj bin. Phila., March 25, 1854 Pin . Spring and Summer style G E X T L E E JJ ' S II A T S . . I'OSTEH & GEEHARD, s 49 South Third Strut, below Clustnut, FUIUDF.I.I'IIIA, HAVE unusual satisfaction in calling atten tion to their lari;e and varied stock of Mole- skin.'Drab, Reaver, (M'er, Panama, and a variety of Straw and Sunt Huts. (ictitleineu sinnincr ( .ips of all descriptions. I hildrcu s r uncy Linlirotilcrcil nnd J lam l aps Straw Hats nnd Caps, Misses' Pints, etc. I f FurUcular attention is called to a White and Nankeen Pruncli Felt Hat, of our own int. pollution. 1'liila., April Vi, 104 -3ui. From Dickens1 Household Woids. '- OIL UPON THE WAVES. Bi:njami Franklin printer, amhassa dor, electrician, kite-flyer, republican and philosopher in general made some curious experiments ou title subject ; but it will be easy to collect numerous observations bear ing on the matter in other quarters, before nuticin; Franklin s researches. . rimy, in Ins Natural lliatory, propound' ed a bit of wisdom, which was a standing joke for many centuries. At given in Philemon Holland translation it runs thus: "All seas are made calme and ttill with oyle ; and therefore the dyvers under the water doe spurt and sprinkle it abroad with their mouths, because it dulceth and allay fth the unpleasant nature thereof, and car ryeth a Relit with it." Hut, bv the eigh leenlh century, men had begun to believe much of this statement, if not the whole. It became known lhat the fishermen. of Uermuda were wont to our a little oil on the water of the sea, to facilitate that stri king oi fish, which is rendered difficult when ripples disturb the clearness ol view It became known, or at least reported, that Ihe fishermen nf Lisbon, when about to r' turn into the Tagtis, and when the surf on the bar was more than usually rough, occa siotully adopted the plan of emptying bottle or two of oil into the s-a, thereby suppre'M.ing the breakers sufficiently to al low a boat to pas in safely. It became known lhat in certain parts of Ihe Madder- raneao, divers 'probably spuiige, or coal nMrl A.har jli.t 11, m llin,s U'ltieh mine k.d denhed. m.t f.. ik. of a ... ... , - " J alillneiHi ol lh waves, but lor the Clearness ol the light henehfh the surface of the wa ter whicli rt suits frdm tlial 'sti)n-s 1' becartte known that in the liaibor of New port, in Khotle Iilaiuf, Hie sen was always smooth white any whaling Veg'els were in ;( ; whence the inference, that the leakage fioiti the barrels hod mixed wilh the water which was- from lime to time pumped up from the holds of the fillips; and that this modicum of oil, spreading over Ihe surluce of Ihe harbor stilled the w aves. - . , Besides this- general reports rumnrs which were more trustwoithv than it is Iways the good lortnne ol rumors lo be there were many facts mentioned more prcc;sely by tiavelh rs, and naluratists, and others. Pennant said, that seals rat their prey bema'h the water ) and, in case they are devouring nny Very oily fish, the place is known by a certain smoothness of the waters immediately above ; a fact which the sjal-fishi'is are very glad to s!ore up among their ileitis of knowledge." Sir (jtlfied Lawson, who served long in the army at Gihralter, ascertained lhat the fish- rmen in lhat place were accustomed to four a little oil on the sea, in order to sun its motion, that they might be enabled to see dhe oysters lying beneath which were large and valuable, and were fi.-hed up with more factjity by this aid. Sir John riinele one of the lights ol the Koval iicn-ty in the last century- lound that the ernng-fi-hers on the coast of Scotland could, at a dis'.ance, see where the shoals of herrings were, by Ihe smoothness of the water over them, attributable, as he belie ved, lo the opines ol the fish. Count Ben- tinck, the Dutch Envoy at St. James, we hove, showed Dr. Franklin a letter cu riously illustrative of this niljocl ; it was from a M. Teuguagel, narrating the events of a vovnge in a Dutch ship in seventeen hundred and seventy, in the wi--tern se.is. Near the islands Paul ami Amsterdam, the lip encountered a storm; whereupon, Ihe captain,, for oreatrr safely in wearing the ship, poured some oil into Ihe s-a. M. Tciiiuagel was uponjh cl; at the time, nd he stales that the plan succeeded in preventing the waves from breaking over the vessel. He adds, "As the captain over turned no more than a small quantity at a time, Ihe SiUalion of their ship was flue pei haps, to four quarts of olive oil;" and e very naturally thought it woithy ol inquiry, whether other vessels might not be aided in a similar way,' by a similarly small quantity ol olive oil. ' Dr. Franklin took up this subject as he did many othtM of a useful character, and in the best of all ways by actual experi ments. In the year seventeen hundred and fi!ty-S'vcn, being at sea in a large fleet bound lor Louishurg, he observed the u nlies of two of the ships to be remarkably smooth, while all the others were rufiled by a fresh blowing wind. The captain on being appealed to f r an assignable cause, expressed a supposition that Ihe cooks had been just emptying their greasy ' water through the scuppers, which had greased the side ol those two -ships a little." Franklin at first thought that this must be a mystification a tale for the marines ; but, recollecting Pliny's statement, he re solved, if an opportunity should ofler, to try the experiment for himself in ever so small a way. Some years afterwards, being at Clapbam, he determined to make an oleaginous experiment upon a large pond. On a wi.idy day, when the surlace ol the pud was rough, he brought a cruet ot oil, n.l poured a little into the pond his first experiment was not vrry successful, lor he stood on the eew.arit side of the pond, and the wind blew the oil back again upon the shore; hut, upon going !o the windward side, he found thnt even a tea-spoonful of oil produced an instant Valm over a space several yards square, and that, spreading and spreading by decrees, il reached the leeward 6ide, covering, probably, hall an acre with a film of oil of exquisite tenuit y. Franklin bore Ihe character of a truthlul man ; and when he describes tb'u experi ment with unmistakable clearness in the Philosophical Transactions, we must not reject it merely because it is marvelous.- lie declares that this spoonful of oil made half an acre ol water "as smooth as a look- ing-glas." Ponds are not yet banished from England, nor oil, nor cruets, nor tea spoons; and it would not be a very diffi cult matter for a curiously disposed person to imitate this experiment lor himself. Franklin repeated the experiment soon after at Ormathwuite near Leeds, in the presence of Smealon and Jessop, the cele brated engine ts; and, on another occasion he determined to try, somewhere near I'ortsinouth, whether he could lessen the surf on a lee shore, bv means ol oil. lie selected a windy day, which gave the char acter of a lee shore to the spot between llwlar hospital and dillkickcr point. A long boat was anchored about a quarter of a riii le Irom the shore. A barge plied to windward of the lung boat, as far from hit as she was from the shore, making trips ol about half mile each; oil being continually poured Irom her out of a large stone bottle, through a hole in the coik about as large as a goose quill. A party of observers placed themielves on Ihe shore, in a position t note it ony change were produced in lite surf by the action of the oil. Franklin did not find the eflecl upon the surf to be so great is h expected; but the persons in the . long boat could oinerve a iracn oi smooth water the whole length of the dis tance on which lbs) oil was p mr.d gradu ally spreading in breadth towards the long bout.. The water was smooth, but not ac tually level. Th swell conlliiited ; but .K.rr.e- u a not rutlle.1 bv wrinkles or smaller wares; and there were none of ii J 1 ..il.tv ttu'hilA ran." the waves raneu --r- u.va whose Ions turn over in foam,) al h,o.oh thera was abundance) of this kind ol wive both to windward and leeward (if the oily space. A wiierry cam ruiu H Mint under sail. In her way lo Portsmouth, I , il..,.:i i.L l.u iscrmeu iw m . , cl.oice, and to use it fiom end to end as a 'ii e oi lur.npiko road. Il was mil likely that such a man as l'uuil.liit, would abstain from speculating ti the cause of such curious results. There are two enquiries involved Why does oil spread on water? and why, when so spnai, ,l,v-a it still the 'wavy surface! If a tlrop of oil be put on a polished mar Jde table, or on u looking-glass placed hor uont.lly, it remains in it place, spreading eiy little: hut when put on water, il spreads instantly all round, becoming so thin as to produce the prismatic colors for a ronsid erabie space; and, beyond the re gions ol these colors, to present that pecu liar blackness which optical philosopher know to be attributable to n film whose thickness is to be estimated by millionths rather than by thousandths of nn inch. It would appear as if a mutual repulsion took p ace between Ihe particles ot oil as soon os it touches water; a repulsion so strong as to act on other bodies swimming on Ihe surface, as straws, loaves, chips, &.C, for cing them to recede every way from the drop as from "a centre, leaving a large clear space. But then, even If we can explain all this by meansof repulsion, how happens it that so thin a film ol oil can still the waves? When air is in motion over water, with any of the degrees of velocity between a gentle breeze and a perfect hurricane, the air rneounlers a sort of friction io passing over the surface of the water, and.it rubs up the water into wrinkles; these wrin kles grow, and grow, until they' become big waves. Now Franklin supposed that, w hen a film ol nil is on Ihe surlace of the Water, the air has nolhing to catch hold of ; il slips ovi r the oil; as a greasy pig's tail would slip out of the hands of Iloiljje at a fair; it cannot wrinkle the oil, and it can not wrinkle the water bi'ttpath the oil. True, there are slower o:i.l larger heaving?, especially in deep, water ; but (here are not the little" crumplings and ripplings which the surlace of water usually exhibits. There are two phases or stages in this pro cess. If oil be poured upon water already in a state of wavy undulation, it will not stop the deep, full wave ; it will only kill the little undulations with which these greater waves are embroidered If the oil be poured upon the wealher-side of water only just beginning to be affected by wind, it may, says Franklin, stille the waves at Iheir birth : by preventing them from be ing even little, it may effectually prevent them from ever being large. Whether his theory be true or not, it is clear and intelligible, and deserves attention. In the Great Pacific of Clapham Common, when Franklin poured the oil on the lee-side ol the pond, he failed to obtain a mastery over the waves; but when he operated on the weatlu r-side (the side whence the wind blows,) he nipped them in the bud, and thereby prevented them from blossoming into waves. ' Phis curious subject, so lar as evidence s afforded, has been but little attended lo since F'raiiklin's time. And vet it is a good subject for water-girt people like ourselves to know something more nbout. We feel much inclined to propound a lew questions, to induce a little thinking on the part of those w hose thoughts are worth knowing. Do our captains and sailors at the present day know muih about this oil- wave theory? Have their observations tended lo confirm or to invalidate the rea sonings of the older observers ? Would ten pounds worth ol oil save a thousand pounds worth of damage to shipping in a harbor during a particular state' ol the wind ? Would some ol oursurl-lined coasls become more easily accessible to ships' boats bv oiling Ibem occasionally as we would oil one piece of mechanism, to enable another lo slip over it smoothly ? Would the edorts ol our life-boats lo reach a stranded ship be facililati d by a keg ot oil, taken out as art ol Ihe boat's stores, and used where the surf is heaviest? Da our fi hermen ever now throw oil upon the waves, to aid them in determining where and how to u ake their onslaught on the fish! If we dip any thing into a pond or stream from a lour-penny piece up to any thing you please, could we render it visible, anil ta i ili ale our search by the use of a little oil ? When masons descend by a diving bell to ngage on hydraulic engineering wotk, could they like the Mediterranean fishers get a little additional . light into th-ir work-shops, by oiling the water's surface ? Might nol a hapless wrecked ship, "funk in water, not too deep, be attentively and u efilly espied from above, it the water's surface were rendered smooth by oil! When telegraph people are laying down submarine wires, would their labors be fa cilitated hy a little oil, ritln r Li render the voyage smoother, or to render the sunken wire more visible? All which qie to s we submit, without presuming to anticipate Ihe answer. Fuou and Rat Fmur A desperaia an cotintei I mk place between a lra aud a rat, at' a brook near the s!aii"hier house of t'riah Wi""ius, in this town. A ml came down lo iheVook lo think, nnd disenve ins a ftog ;i Ii force and aim" made it n utlni k upon linn, by ni; ku a a fitm v" P w ilt '-is leeth So sooner did the ml make his hold than the fin:.' pli ityed into tlio water, drawing his an lajjoni t wilh him, where ho rem lined until his oppom lit w as compelled to let ijn, ami make for diy land, closely pursued by a fioj A soon as the fiog appealed above the, wa ter he wns n"aiii attacked by the rut, and a crond lima became a si bjecl for cold wa ter bulling. This feat was several times pm formed until ihe rut, front exhaustion and diowiilnj!, (ell piey. After lli fiuy bad be romd assured tli.il Ins aiita.'oniet mi dead, be seuleJ birr sail upon hie carcase, with all the complaisance imaginable, w bete be re mained (or half an hour, chuluiix bis kaid won viotoi) ! i'vwr Gaut'.t. A G Lit .MAN ntlOUM P.lllTY. The "free Germans" of Lnuiville, Ky.. have issned a platform for tho organization of n Herman Reformed partyj the piopiwd object of which appears lo be lo insliucl the native population of the country in regard to what is Iheii duty towards other nations of the world, and wherein Institutions need iiineinlmeiit. The fj.st section of lln-ii platformj or declaintion of principles, ties mnnds lhat sJavcry shall be exclnded from all new territory; slt.it i.befuojiivt; slave law shall bo repcaletl ; that steps shall betaken in tho several Slates for tho gradual extinc tion of slavery. The second denounces ihe Sabbath Laws, Th:iiiks"iving-d.iys, Prayers in Congress nnd Lefislnluics, the oath upon the Bible, tho introduction of the Bible into Free Schools, the exclusion of "Alhcista" from legal acts, &c, ns nn open violation of human rights as well ns of the Consiilution, nnd requires their removal ; cleinniidsth.tt an end shall be put to tho exercise of tho pow er of ihe Pope by ihe instrumentality of Bishops and other omenta within the United Slates, and that Ihe Order of Jesuits be treat ed as n declared enemy of Ihe Republic; and that no individual shall be allowed to remain In Ihe United States over five years, without taking an oath to support the Con stitution. The third demands the concession of public lands to actual settlers, and that pnor colonists shall be aided by national funds; that a special office of Colonization nnd Emi gration shall be created as a particular de- pnilment of tho U. S. Government, lo pro vide for tho various interests of emigrants; that tho Slate shall interfere lo prevent the oppression of tho .laboring classes by the capitalist; and'lhat ihe judicial system shall undergo a indical rcfoim. The fourth demands the following mollifi cation of tlio conslitiilion of the United Siaes; That all cleclioas shall isssue directly from the people; that any eligible citizen of any Stalo may bo elected a member of Con gress by the citizens of nny olher Slate ; nny representative may til any lime be re-cnlled by a majority of his constituents, and re placed by nnnfher. The fifth, endorses the doctrines of free trade. The sixth advocates the I'aeifiic RailroatJ us u national meusuie The seventh declares that neutrality as re gards foreign policy must ceastj lo be nn or- ticlo of our national creed. The eighth ad vocates women's rights. Tho nigth declares that freo negroes should bare the same tiglrs as white men. The teiith condemns tho death penalty as irrational and barbar ous. The eleventh demands lha(t military jurisdiction shall be abolished in lime of peace. The twelvth aud last declares tho temperance laws tyrannieal encrouchments upon individual liberty, and narrow-minded manifestations of nn cnlire misconseption of the legislative duties. We entirely agree with the New Yoik Courier, from which we copy the above, that it is certain that no party advnrating such principles can meet the slighest sympathy outside of the German pnpulnlinn. The ex treme radicalism of the embryo reformers will drive off mnny of the most intelligent and influential Germnns, whilst it will con centrate in bitter and determined . opposition 1 1 iheir schemes ihe entire unlive; population. The more active they may bo in advancing their doctrine, tho more over-w helming onj certain will ba their defeat. Though politi cians may truckle lo them, nnd partial tri umphs encourage their hopes, yet they may rest assured that in the cud they will have to encounter the odium nnd suffer from the overthrow of principles that never can, under any circumstances, secure the respect or the consideration of the American people. Tli revulsion of feeling produced ty these elTorls ia ulready accumulating wilh rapidity every day is aJJing to its puVer, and every day Is rendering h more unconlryluble. If not ar rested by a course of conciliation and of ac qieseuce in the Costilutiou und laws of the country, il will manifest itself in the rejec tion of everything lhat has Ihe support or countenance of Ihe foreign element in the population of the country. JiuUimort Amer ican. Dkath ok Capt. Can fi ci.d. A Detroit pa per says: Another heavy blow has fullen on the family of Gen. Cass, nnd our city has lost another nf its most estimable citizens. Capt. A Confiuld, son in-law of Gen. Cass died lust evening of congestion of Ihe lungs( after a brief illness of a lilllo more than twenty-four bouis. He was a member nf llie corps of United Slates Topographical Engin eeis, in which branch of the Government ser vice he occupied a high position, and at tho lime of his death was llie chief engineer Up on Ihe Saull Ste. Marie Canal. His death will lull wilh crushing fuica upon his family coming as il did wiih sucii dteadful sal ileum's. He was in lliu ptiiiie of li'e, being probably ubout fully-live yens of nge,. AS ACKII ItuVULl'TIUNAMV YtrHUAN John Waul, a soldier of the Revolution, resi ding in Johnburi;h, W.iricu Co., N. Y., at 'l.iined the uge ol lou )c.us on ibo ijih d.iy of May, 1 15 i. lid ktiil enj iys good health Hi. memory tetania but Itulo rccpl lliblo and Revolutionary incidents The Archbishop of Mcxiuii b t. a I lr,e I to all Ihe t-leigy a rneuliir, in w tiieh In r commends U them the ureal! Vigilance in lav'iniii the ciicuU'iou and i4dintf ul the I'.olrtalanl iihlej which hi t'eiii ul ro.l.i ee I Iiuiii lh" Culled Stale t,tu Tamaujii', across Ihe Tons fiouiier. Know in AuMi.tOfk euuutv, Me , few ds Since, was live leal lit depth, cuvviitiy all (ea ses, and s i ll Iruil tier. THE SIOLDIMO WIFE. Our pen trembles in our himd, says the ed itor of the Empire City, ns we write 'scolding wife, for of all the curses and tormei 11 on ihe lace nf the earth, this demon is surely the greatest. Her horrible temper has dri- ven her husband lung since to the tavern, where notwithstanding Ihe terrible penally he will have lo pay for ihe association, ha meets al last withsifiiles and jovial com pniiinns. A man could lie down in the swamp of Louisiana wilh A mosrtiito sucking ot every port' of his skin, nnd bear it w ith more equa nimity than the everlasting clack of a scold' ing woman's tongue. What should be her pleasure (be enre of t tit; household she makes a misery to her self nnd nil around her, nnd particularly to her poor husband, who has lo listen if he comes home, to a meal, to a recital of all the details of tronblo she has wilh the seivnnts; how Billy dropt a little oil on the landing, which she knows will never come out ; and little Elizn, being left to take care of herself, whilst she was looking aflef the servant, threw her spools of cotton into'the fire, and lost every needle she had in the world. Tho husband anxious to modify irritation, rays! 'Never mind, my dear, let os have dinner, I will bring you plenty of spools of cotton and needles when I come home this evening. 'There, lhat is just like you ; I declare Mr. B , it is no use of my staving and work ing, and saving, lo make both ends meet, wilh your extravagant ways. Heaven knows, your income is not so large that you purchase spools nnd needles when mischiev ous children choose lo destroy them but it is just like you ? Whpt do you care ubout your poor wife woiking her fingers' ends of to make yon romfnitable ? not a bit, ns long as your shirt butluns are attended lo, and your slot-kings mended, thai s all us poor, women are wnith. Don't dear me, sir, I'm not lo be smoothed down by your fine words, for while 1 am about it, I will have my say. Do you sea that Mr. I!? Oh! you do; it's a bit of cigar,, it is. Well, I'm sure, and so in spite of all I hftve said you go to smoking in the bed room after breakfast. Upon my woid what will you do next ! As though I hadn't worry aud vexation enough wilh the seivattts, wilh their nasty habits, but you must add to them.' 'D n it, maum', am I to have my din ner f 'There, that's right; begin and swear; it. is so manly Id an improtected female.' 'Soup madam.' That's right ; co on, go on.' 'No, madam, I will go ofT.' A very straight coat tail is seen Ja.hing down the street, nnd in a few minutes after wards, an anxious but quiet looking gentle. man ia ordering a mutton chop at Parker's, and drinking an uncommonly large glass of brandy and water. Meantime the devoted wife isi amusing herself with the hysterics the only bad feature of w hich is that ska rocovers. A REMARKABLE CHAtlACTEft. New York possesses many remarkable) characters remarkable for very diverse rea sons, but generally for Iheir eccentricity.- We have one in mind, a Madame De L., who is now probably sixty yenrs, aud lives nrssa-' runlly in extreme destitution in the garret of -the house she oirtis .' She pays taxes on -814,000 of real estate, and $1,000 personal property, and owns banking and railroad stock lo tho amount of something like $50,000. , In tho street, har appearance is well calcula ted to excite commiseration. Indeed, some kind-heatted individual, a few days ago, be nevuleully offered her one cent, as a gratuity. The Insult, however, was resented, as be come her insulted honor. Diminutive in sta tute and decrepit!, her head ia covered wilh a hood, slouched und almost perenniul. The cloak U wtH matched, and appears lo have diiuo good service, as Ihe folds in Ihe cloth are mostly worn lolliewp. Her daily food consists of a shilling loaf of bread, which is left at her door icgulut'y, and there i added ti this a small portion of meat, or such oilier food us she sees lit lo obtain al the maiket. Keen these small comforts urn shared in sol iimU in her quiet retreat. The human face divine) has no charms fur hor. Her ptcpeity naturally descends to nephew living in Ciuciiiualli, aud t tie old lady's greatest fear is lhat he may got it. Jwr. of Com J Half Makriso. A few evenings sinre, a considerable company met at the house of tho worthy old resident nf the F'itst Waidt to witness tho inuni.igo of bis daughter to a iiick around town. licv. Mr. K.vcns, the c!etg)inan officiating, commenced ho cere ninny and proceeded tu the p:ttl win id lit cads o'l any one present to .pcuk H't if know ing of any impediment tu the coutiniatioiirf the ivieuiiiny. Whereupon a I. m one, w lu V p i.i 1 1, o l lime s'ood timid!) tick in llu crowd, iiitlu , fut waid Ujld si led ihe alliiht ed tu i leeintitii by llie llilo.il and iIihiij; bun immediately liom tho loom and lioo-r, ne tho intended luide coul l cmi e to the tea. cue. Since then, the dt.coi.-'ol.ilo b.ilf U'- 1U 1 VUI1M lli.lilll liia nut In Mid lioin bet i - I ' pniied-awsy h i'f husband. Tli Uctearsj I ;.,..t.. ir...l.i,irjii St. r. -vs iiv I1.IV W.isxisii to B is - Wi J.ielay aiWtea, ll.es a.u vf Ml Bait"') Ca.l, a) lad .) )va.sid Stfe, tshil !ai.iti.i h MieiHr. -' oim id ihem in h's lhii.4, wtiicli s lio.eJhn la dval U Iwloie U .! I be iw uHvd. -.l aiy . '.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers