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
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euo
300
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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 . '.