ance fell very fasta but our attention was
the some
.
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A
4
yo
Published weekly by ALEXANDER
a ve
#
ON, ia Bellefonte, Penn
Eas
i
svivania.
=~
Cy
IMARKABLE PHENOMENON.
From the Vermont Republican. A
‘he following extract, from a communi-
#iion of Joel Manning, jun. Esq. of An
over, Vermont, a gentleman of un-
‘dubted veracity, to the editor of thi
paper, we think not unworthy the atten
tion of the curigus. It has since been
ascertained that similar appearances
were noticed the same night, by some
people passing over a high ground ih
Reading, a place eighteen or twenty
miles north of Andover ¢
The circumstances of which I speak,
ck place at Andover, Vi. It will be re
collected by all in this vicinity, that on the
evening ofthe 18:h of January last, there
was a very hvavy fall of snow, accompan'-
ed with lightning and thunder. Happen
ing to be from home that evening, I came
out of a neighbor’s house in company with
twee
(SE
® young map, my brother, be n the
hours of 10 and 11. We noticed that thc
particularly attracted by the ficquent flash
es of lizhtning. After passing a few rods,
we observed, en the top of a stake in the
force, a light resembling a blaze of fire,
about 2 or 3 inches in lengih though not
sored and bLirilBsat. We soon observed
{was only y
king the following remarks s—That tiisd
only visible on high land at some diss
tahce From the place where we were stan
ding. Resperting the forest trees, I can
only say that we saw no light on them.
Lights might be there and we not sce thems
:hrough the falling snow. To be sure, oy;
cxperiments were all of them near the
ground ; but as far as we know, the higher
in the air, the greater the quantity of light;
and, as far as we are acquainted, it increa
sed very fast. From the height of my
ead to that of my hand, with my arm c.
ccted at full length, it appeared almos!
doubled.
It appears that the wind increased this
Ceht, by this experiment: stand your back
« the wind, place your hand and fingers
ap, mitten on, about eight inches from
cour breast, so high that a spark would be
sach on the highest ‘point of the nitten,
{uth facing the wind, with your hands 1m
the same situ:tion, and there would be
more sparks, and those larger. Even bn
that state of the air the concurrence of
many circumstances seemed necessary Lo
produce the appearance of a conical blaze
or hissing; that upon which it must be
that on every stake was atizht; and also ou
the highest of bushes by the side ef the
fence. This excited sc much wonder and
curiosity that we called to the people in
the house, and alsn to some who were at
toe same time passing the street, to see
phenomenon. We soon obser-
. yed it on gur hats, hair and miltens, when
held
“righ white sparks of various sizes, from lost its conical form, and the sound was al-
those which were but just discernable to
Sry
apy pot in the form of a blaze, but of
| 8c of the size of a large buck shot.
We found by examination tuat upon any
<hiso that was tolerable smooth, and with:
out limbs, there was no light except at the
top. We viewed these blazes at the dis-
tance of about a foot and a half; there form
was precisely that of an inverted cone,
geemingly standing on the smallest possi-
‘ble point, whose height was to its greatest
diameter as three to one,
On one stake there were three of those
blazes. On two or tlitee stakes, upon
which they appeared the most vivid, they
emitted a sound resembling the hissing of
water mm a tea-kettle, just before it hoils
T'his sound could be distinctly heard at the
Those bla-
zes would disappear at the approach of a
distance of tenor twelve feet.
stick, viz. a whip staff, (as that was the in-
strument made use of in the experiment)
within a little less than two feet; butl
since recollect, that in all cases when this|
experiment was tried, the top of the staff
was considerably higher than the stake;
which accounts, in part, for its remaining,
thouch with a less degree of brilliancy,
when our hands or heads were much ncar-
er, but not so high.
After viewing it for some time, we pro-
as we. passed over a
ecded homeward ;
picce of rising ground, our hats and shoui- 5
ders were almost covered with this light ;
and when we spit, the small particles of
apittle at the distance of six or eight inch-
es from the mouth, assumed a shining ap-
pearance. These lights were to be scen
for three quarters of a mile except when
by the side or in a piece of standing tim-
ber. We returned again about twelve
o'clock, when there appeared full as much
or more light on our clothes, but no ap-
pearance of these conical figures, and con-
sequently no hissing.
cording to what observations and ex-
~ @eriments wo made, I focl justified in ma-
|
higher than auy thing near, as there were
many stakes in ths fence, but upon only
two or three of the highest were these ap-
pearances. It must be without ramificati-
: for upon briars of equal height with
It mus!
:
(on
tose stakes there were
‘also be capped with snow : for after brush-
fine the snow from those which before had
tits anpearance, a light remained, but it
none.
fso extinct.
All the circumstances I have stated can
a‘tested by tv o or three witnesses, and
{most of them by five or six.
I have sTice Lieard, to the distance of two
or {oree miles in different directions, of
ibe
lights of thio same kind being seen'not in
sucha quantity, bet generally one individ-
ual light. »
[It is understood that this phenomenon
was also noticed at Dover, and othei™ fowiis
in that vicinily, on the same evening]
——Re
Internal Texes—It may not occur to
some of our readers, that the Direct Tar,
expiring by its own limitation with the
present session of congress, was not one
of those taxes which Congress has reiu-
scd to repeal. The Direct Tax, it ought
to be generally understood, exist no longer
—it having been deemed unnecessary or
inexpedient to provide by law for its re-
newal.
Nat Imtelicecner,
FRUCM THE HARRISBURG REPUBLICAN.
——
ATFEW QUOTATIONS FROM
“A LETTER to George Washington,
«president of the United States, contain
«ing STRICTURES on his address of
« the 17th of september, 1796, notifying
« his relinquishment of the presiden-
« tial office—By Jasper Dwight of Ver-
« ed at Philadelphia for the author, and
«sold by the booksellers.—-Dee. 1796
« ——datod November 12th 1796.”
« Had the French revolution cemmen-
ced ten years later.or you retired to the
the friends of public virtue would still
proudly boast of one great man free from
the breath of public dispraise, and your
fondly partial country, forbearing to en-
quire whether or not you were chargeble
with private abberations, would vaunt in
you the possession ofthe Phenix.—But
it is to be feared that the temper of your
mind has been mistaken by all but those
who, by uniting evil with ambitions dis
positions, prevailed over your judgment
‘0 the prejudice of your reputation.”
Page &
« mont” {alias William Duane] % print i
shades of Mount Vernon four years ago,|
MONDAY MORNING, MARCH 51, 1817.7 ©
Ria og MN 4 #
aS of y my al Ps ipa i
with incalenlablc evils to your country "Ih
affordeds a most serious lesson indeed
to the people of America, and to cvory
ather nation who may yei. have to adop!
a model In realizing their hbertics”™
Page 6.
« I venture from retirement, and wit
out the sanction of a pime, to question
vou! measnres, and to display with bold
hut candid ircedom what I see or think
[ see therein of analarming and pernicious]
vendency 3 to examine and display
timents of yours, which deem incon-|
Istent with yoursell, incoinpatiable with]
ihe professed sincerity of your charagie A]
wid repugnant to the purest maximus of
liberality, wisdom and morals”
RR
i
Sch
Page 7.4
«1 at first proposed to convey my ie-
marks to you ina private manner; but
considering ‘the foundation of the evil
cifects which I apprehended from your
address, as alreadylud, { have judged = tt
mote © proper to lay them before
pie, who are alone esseutiaily cong
"kd is Lid
1, am av re that
form of state secrecy, privilege of office or
powers assumed {o belong to the presiden-
«ial character, which in fact are neither
more nor Jess than the worst
ments vom Machiavitlien fiolicy, and the
actual essence ol monarchical perrogative,
this eoduct is cliected to be justified : hut
by such frail disguises and foul advisers
vou bave been betrayed to withhold the
sotvespondence on the British tre 0
ipeat your country
you wished to overcome by stratagem,
and like a skilful general in the career of
success dictated conditions which dé
) » 4
aly em!
arn
deliberate, whe n the conditions of su ren-
der were already irrevocable! But from
that fatal mom when you listened to
the seduction of your deadliest encmies
in opposition to the voice of freedom
ea
viilL
your countenance is tdid to ‘have faded,
the'glory that shone round you disoived
in mist, and like our first parents, you
have bovpe about you the vistble ‘evi
dences of internal regrei, and the per-
turbations of virtue struggling between
pride & conscious error. From inat unhap
py hour the enemies of liberty and your
country called you thelr own, and the
name of WASHINGTON sunk fiom the
clevated rank of the SOLONS and LY-
CURGUSES, of the insignificance of a
Venetian Doge or a Dutch Stathhoider!”
Page 10 & 11.
« The sacred sentiment of duty obli
we (0 point out wherein you huve
lated your own principles; by making
your acaress the yvehicie of perscnal re
sentment; the indirect defence of weak
and unjustifiable measures 5 where you
have urged dogwias repugnant to free
government, subversive ol the right of]
private judgmeni, ana. calculated to im.
pede the progres of morals and the bap-
piness of mankind-~Serious and afflicting
are these truths, verified by numercus,
pasages in vour address, upon which Ij
shall remark as I procecd ”’ Page 16. !
President Washington in his address)
observes :
« But the constitution which at any
time exists, till exchanged by an explicit]
Cs
oes
710
»
and authentic act of the whole people,
is sacredly obligatory upon all. The ve-
ry idea of the power & the right of the pco-
ple to establic government presupposes the
duty of every individnal to obey the esiab-
ished government.”
Upon this, among other things, the let-
ter writer cays :
« Strange, but affecting truth that pow-
er long possessed perverts the judgricnt
else we should not have received se
nany admonitions Mins the people and
so llutle on the dangers to be apprehended
from that source from whence tyranny has
crept in all ages l--Butit is evident that
in thig part of your address you are gev-
erncd by feelings very seperate irom those
em
i
i
ry
|
{
EY ey
under the fatal
engrafi-’
aS an ehemy whoini
i
ded the subjugated by leaving them the! 20
show of delibe ation wihout the means to!
which hates disguise, the brightness of
wo!
her bosom.”
EE TIME
nu, secret meeiings, to the
great and just opinions, the
5 owe this day the bic ssings
»
» AO
“A
WER
2 crecy
{United States
tof Tndeponde
[Is it Nr, Duane? then it seems
lsecret wectirps, which you bave since
ibranded with the epithet of caucuses,
ibave donc great things. ln 1796 tiey
‘were {favorites of yours..-=They
then suited your designs, but. 1817 you
them breause you cannot
m which you
ora
anathemtat?
lead them.
can lead, ai
I shall at
SOME mora
of “the
St
Those
» sti}! 1 favar.]
me leisnre
Art pos
AAR TAS
hour = send yok
xn this witintory
production, which will show to the fede
lists the «sicem which their pew
leader had for th and general VWashe
ington Mm duys of yore. Q.
wo
ABORIGINAL GRATOR.
Ouie of the most ex'reordinary ten of ©
i :d from ihe stage:
The
1he
'erandear of his plans: tie ardent, pattenty
54
e 50
svn
Cra
on
>
(bald, yet prudent inflexibility with which
the puisacd them, all incicate a mind of
[the highest order. The great body of
mankind must always be imposed on by
circumstances, aud therefore will be litte
inclined to allow, that Tecuinseh was nog
ian accomplished military commander, bud
falso a great natural statesmen and orators
{OF thie tnany strange, and some strongly
‘characteristic events of his life, we are
\going to give onfy a litde one which we
Gately heard related 3 which affords an ade
(miteble specimen of his proud ambitionsy
- :
La=,
dangerous spirit, and of the suvi'mity
ch sometimes distinguished his =las
quence. It wosin 1811, at the council
(which general Harrison held with the fodis
tans at Vincennes, The chiefs of some
itribes had come to complain ofa purchice
‘of lands which had been made from tha
Kicapoos. [It is generaily known that this
council effected vothing, and broke up in
confusion in consequence of Tecumseh
thaving called governor Bairison a liz, Ig
‘was in the progress of the long talks that
{took place in the conference, that Tecnme
sch, having finished one of his spieches,
{looked round, and secing every ope seats
ved, while no seat was prepared for bim; a
lmomentaty frown passed over his conntes
‘nance. Instantly general Harrison crdor.
led that a chair shouid be given him. S
Qn
ow
OCMmey
person presented one, and bowing, ss ¢ 10
him, « Warrior, your father, general Har-
{rison, offers you a seat.” Tecvmsel’s
dark eye flashed. « My father I” he ex.
claimed, indignantly, extending his a ms
[towards the heavens, « The sun is my fas
ther: and the earth is my mother, She
‘gives me nourishment and I yepose upon
As he cnded be sat down,
suddenly, cross legged, upon the ground.
v Nat. Register,
nati TR —
PROGRESS OI RELIGION.
It appears by a comaunication address
ed to Governor Tompkins of New York
which has been publisted in the newsias
pers, that a part of the Oneida nation of In-
diavs, which was herctofore known by ihe
“PAGAN PARTY,” have renounced their
paganism, and taken the © Christian's Ged,
S
ash
a
Ad
.
ito be thei God, aed their only hope and.
salvation.” hisinformation isteuly grat-
ying, and holds out strong encourages
ment to missionary labor. :
— £5
LATEST FROM IRELAND.
New Vork, Marc 12,
By the ship Coiumbu rived
fast evening from Cork, we have reccived
Dublin prpers of the 1500 of Jani
On the 13th there was 2
ing ol the inhabitants of
purpose of petitioning ler a 1
itament. The meeting was ve
ous, consisting of forty or fil'y ti
A sting of resolutions, 2nd a
the House of Commons, Were read, znd
unanimously carried
Price of meat in Dublin market, oi!
~
11th of January, beel rca 7 woi0 cents
h
8, Smith,
A
5
oonels
<i
hid
+1
3
105 iy I
nel io
IR
e
of dispeshionate and benevolent patriotisa: |
this regard for the constitution, aithoueh
I doubt not of your attachment to it, ap-|
nears awkward when encaged in stimu-
lating one side and depressing the other,
and still condemning the party. In this
mixture of jealousy, resentmcnt
[mistaken pride, you forget that itis
pork 610 9; mutton 10 te 13; weal 111
| 4 ; wheat and flour. average pace lov th
ck ending 19¢h January, 130s. por sac
yrs
A
CONDITION OF IRELAND.
At the teresting weciing ar Harold's
andi Cross, Dublin on the 15th Jan. tovtakre ins
\to consideration the present drsadin sia.
.e ; . oy
A Ala 4
GR Cid