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Federal Gazette & Baltimore Daily Advertiser 1807/01-1807/06 msa_sc3722_2_6_1-0071 Enlarge and print image (4M) |
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Federal Gazette & Baltimore Daily Advertiser 1807/01-1807/06 msa_sc3722_2_6_1-0071 Enlarge and print image (4M) |
| From the Commp.rchl Register. The multiplication of small posts is pro- ductive of much evil in a military establish- ment.—ft is impossible that the separation du ing years from the rest of mankind, should be otherwise than fatal to the mental energies of any class of individuals. With- out any resources of society or books, ba- nished to a miserable stockade enclosure (adorned with the appellation of fort) on t(ie western frontier, or at the mouth ef one of the southern rivers surrounded with swamps and their wild inhabitants, how iilslancholy is the destiny of an officer in the America;! army ! Soured by his situati- on, prevented from social intercourse with the few men under his command by the punctilios of service, he becomes the petty tyrant of his dependants ; he seeks to divert reflection by the bottle, his habits are bru- tified his health is impaired—he looks with gloomy impatience to promotion, by the ..death of a comrade, or sinks himself into the gtave, a victim to inebriation) and the abandonment to which he is condemned ! The number of men provided for by law is about 3500 ; but they seldom or never simount to their complement. What the reason of this is, I leave to those who know it, to explain. Instead of dispersing this force in. platoons, over the "hole of the United States, without the possibility of their affording the smallest protection to Vmy part of the country, against even the most contemptible enemy, reduce them no- minally to 2000; the reduction will be only -in idea, for it requires no degree of scepti- fcisui to doubt their being at present that ¦number, fit for service. Let these be en- camped in a body during the summer on our western line, in winter let them take post and do garrison duty in detachments of never less than five hundred men. Let the money appropriated for the remaining fifteen hundred men, be employed in raising a battalion of native American youth, of an age between fifteen and twenty years; not recruited, as is the custom, from the most ignorant, vicious and disorderly classes of life, but from the hardy cultivators of the soil and the hunters of our hack-coun- tries. I jet these be placed under the com- mand of able officers, who shall teach them every duty of the soldier—let it be an indispensable requisite for the admission into the corps that they can write and read. Let this corps encamp in summer with the other troops and in winter occupy a sepa- rate post ; let them be inspected annually by officers appointed specially for the purpose and who do not belong to the establishment; ; let the reports be handed into the war-office and regularly filed. Let certain honorary rewards be conferred on those w,ho distin- guish themselves by application and activity ; let them, when they shall have attained the B 'cessary instruction, be detached on com- mand to the other battalions, and during the summer exercise let them act in rotation as non-commissioned officers in those battali- ons. When theyshalibesufficiently acquain- ted with all the subaltern duties, let them "be allowed to go to their homes- or settle in any part of the United States they please, on condition of returning to the battallion at the expiration of a given time or when summoned so to- do. Let them be furnish- ed with a suit of uniform yearly at the ex- j|>:nse of the government, engaging to wear it on certain days and to return with it in good order, at the time appointed for their visit to the camp. Let a set of regulati- ons be framed for their government, whose spirit shall be to inspire the young men ¦with sentiments of pride and honor, and let them never *>e exposed to the debasement of corporal punishment, unless as a previ- ous measure to expulsion from the corps. When on leave of absence let them have furloughs written on parchment of different colors, to eaeb. of which shall be attach- ed an opinion of credit or disgrace.— Can it be doubted that by such an establish- ment will be procured a stock of active and veil-informed non-commissioned officers, the sinews of an army ? With respect to the other denominations of troops, horse, and foot artillery, cavalry, heavy and light, &e. the same regulations may be applied with ¦various modifications ; it will only be ne- cessary to pay more attention to the scienti- fic acquirements of the officers of the for- mer, or rather this will be for them a school of practice after they have progressed to a certain point in their school of theory. And of what inappreciableadvantage will it notbe to the country generally, by such simple means, to provide the militia, and any occa- sional new levies, with instructors, who shall thus unite the skill of the soldier with the independence of the citizen ? Of the corps of engineers I shall say nothing ; it would be indecorous to propose alterations where perhaps defects do not ex- ist ; the works of its pupils will determine the success of the West Point academy in forming officers. Of a school of artillery! shall be pardoned for only declaring my opinion negatively. It should not be com- manded by men unacquainted with the ser- vice in all its details, a good officer of ar- tillery ought to be master of the mathema- tics and their connection with many branch- es of natural philosophy ; but a man may be a good mathematician and natural phi- losopher, and at the same time be a most jgnoiant artillerist ; I deny the possibility ©f acquiring a knowledge of that profession from theory without practice. Thejealousyof the different corps should not besedulouly ex- cited ; the duty of a chief in a military insti- tution, is as much as possible to repress the ebullitions of the esprit de cbrps, and to >"'n its «trenm to an honest emulation ; not to stimulate prejudices. The pupils should Hit, be admitted without ea.uvj>uati©n of their. previous acquirements—they should not be j children unacquainted with the elements of mathematics, and introduced merely to draw the pay given by the government— they should nut be allowed to withdraw from their course of studies at the whim of their parents, and thus be an useless ex- pence to the country, and made the tools of paltry speculations or avarice. They should not be promoted to grades in the ar- my, without a strict inquiry into the pro- gress they have made in their professional studies. The examinations should not take place by any members of the institution, or under their control. They should not be permitted to degrade the ncble profession of arms, to the vile ditties of a lacquey, by converting soldiers into menial servants. An excellent military institution would be a staff-corps, which should embrace the departments of the quarter-masters, pay- masters, adjutants, -waggon-masters, &c. Castraraetation and field-fortification, might be the study of its members, who would thus furnish a nemerous supply of highly usclul officers. Let us now, sir, resume the heads we have discussed and state the component parts of the proposed establishment. We shall have by the adoption of this plan, five schools, which will prepare for the service of the country military men of every grade, at the same time that they will do the duty, and answer all the purposes of the same number on the present footing of the army. The several corps of instruction will be 1. Starr-corps' 2. Engineers 3. Artillery 4. Cavalry 5. Infantry K. >> Non-c office lusici rival 2 ? 1 a <-, 20 — _ _ 20 — — — 50 SO 20 200 12 12 4 40 20 20 20 500 82 44 740 Total 123 Of these, all except the engineers, are substituted for the regiment of artil- lery now in service whose establish- ment is 69 leo 80 1320 With regard to the mock-fortifications in the Atlantic ports, let them be left in the charge of the invalid officers unci men, who must in justice be provided for by govern- ment ; it will then no longer be necessary to burthen the rolls of the army, with the names which are there placed, because no provision exists for pensioning super-annu- ated. veterans. It was my intention, Mr. Editor, to have concluded my communications to you, with some reflections on the many defects in the organization of the militia throughout the United States ; these are even apparent to the less observing portion of the community —the men themselves, who in public load it with eulogies, are the iirst in private to laugh at the puppet. livery nation has its peculiar genius. The inhabitant of Lapland is not more dif- ferent from the Circassian in exterior ap- pearance, than in mind & disposition, The same variety existsandis expressed in shades more or less, deep, over the whole surface of our globe. Education and example widen yet more the breach which separates the countless races of mankind. Civilization has, indeed, throughout Europe, and part of America, covered the whole picture with a varnish, which deceives the eye of a superfi- cial observer ; but still the indelible stamp of national character is discernible, and be- comes mote marked as great interests bring it forward. In no instance does the pencil of nature inscribe the distinctive features of national phisiognomy in stronger lines, than when iti; expression is called forth by events that involve the happiness, and sometimes the existence of the .social ties' which con- stitutes one's country. The study of each government, therefore, should be to raise this expression, to incald the Colossus of de- fence upon it, and to give elasticity to the spring which sets in motion all its energies. Fiederickthe Great of Prussia, placed in one of those critic.il situations which call forth the resources of superior minds, form- ed his armies upon this principle. The iron discipline introduced by hs predecessor, left him little to do besides simplifying and ac- celerating the movements of his troops, the almost.immediate feats of arms which they performed in the memorable Seven-years' War, manifested the success of his endea- vors. Losing sight of the base on which his system rested, the other powers of Eu- rope- imitated his warlike institution—as well might the Holstein Charger be made the rival on the course of the fleet Arabian. Only of late years have the French aban- doned this wide-spread error—their subse- quent victories have wiped off with a branch of laurel the disgrace of former wars. Ob- stinate adherence to the Prussian systems joined to a most persevering attention to the minutiae of dress and accoutrements, is the characteristic of the British infantry : to simplicity of movements and personal comforts, they substitute an endless series of parade manoeuvres, and gew-gaw ornaments, which distress and wear out their soldiery ; to this in a great measure may be attributed the inferiority in fame and aehievments of their armies to their fleets. Our fathers, at the epoch of otir glorious revolution, un- skilled in tactics, but inspired by innate valor and patriotism, opposed with unex- pected and effectual resistance their proud invaders. A code of instruction, eviaently the work of hurry, but excellent in the cir- cumstances of the moment, added method to their courage—they became under the banners of liberty and the eyes of the heroes who commanded ihti.i. regularly disciplined and at least equal to the veterans of Europe. We have reaped the harvest of their exerti- ons—let us profit by their example and even by their faults. They experienced the advantage of the discipline which steeled their efforts^ but thejj Itkgwjse felt its fljany detects, ' "*"''" On the foregoing truths and on observa- tions of national character, both in ancient and modern history, might be founded on investigation of the fittest mode of organi- zing the national levies. 1 am aware, sir, thatgsuah an inquiry would take up more of your Columns than could be asked for with propriety or granted with convenience. AMMIAN US. lutely necessai1^; thongTi the patentee ctin- ceives that by attending to them a greater advantage will be gained than can be had by the present mode of making glass, and with a saving of health to the labourers em- ployed. For the FEDEilAL GAZETTE. Mr. Hewes, Observing in your paper a notifi- cation of a debate to be held at the Pantheon on Saturday last, curiosity induced me to at- tend the discussion. Although the audience was thin, (owing, as I was informed, to an omission in the Secretary to have the adver- tisement published early enough to make the thing public) yet I by no means con- ceived the few hours I remained there mis- spent, or tediously passed off. The debate Was animated, and highly calculated for the entertainment of our en- lightened audience. Such a society, insti- tuted for purposes so laudable, reflects merit on its founders, and has great claims upon public favor. The funds of the society, I am told, are applied to charitable purposes, and altho' it is attended with considerable expenci-. 230 dollars are stated to have been distributed among the poor at the dissoluti- on of the last society, which was formed & conducted upon the same principles, and, with a few exceptions, by the same members of the present society. Such being the fact, and as the admirers of elocrcence cannot spend their Saturday evenings more agreeably, than by listening to an interestingdebate, conducted by youths of promise, who may hereafter be seated in the councils of their country, they are en- titled to receive every encouragement. A SPECTATOR From the Augusta Herald. AGAINST INEBRIATION. Four ounces of bread will afford more durable •warmth and nourishment, than a quart of spirits! Washington. Convinced that many persons adopt the use of ardent spirits to warm themselves in winter, and exhilerate their spirits in sum- mer, I beg leave to assure such deluded people, that the above sentence of our country's father, was made upon the moot mature deliberation and experience ; would to God my fellow-citizens, each of us would give a fair trial in so momentous a concern, which must insure sobriety, and of course heighten every mental enjoyment! On the contrary, the man who praises driking, stands a sot convicted on his own evidence —and praises that infernal practice 'which murders; jour out ef five of our citizens. It is very common that events arise from a debauch which are fatal, and always such as are disagreeable. With all a man's rea- son and good sense about him, his tongue is apt to utter things oat of a mere gaiety of heart, which may displease his best friends. Who then would trust himself to the power of wine, if there was no other objection against it than this, that it raises the imagination and depresses the judgment ? However this tribe of people may think of themselves, a drunken man is a greater monster than any that is to be found amongst all the creatures which God has made, as indeed there is no character which appears more despicable and depraved, in the eyes of ail reasonable persons than that of a drunkard. Witness Alexander, Clitus, Dionysius, amongst the ancients, and hour- ly instances of this depopulating vice, «- mongsl. ourselves. Which of us, my dear friends, can boast of a general sobriety, and can declare that no disgraceful instance of excess, has attended our connections; how many of us have been worse than our pro- genitor, in devouring the " forbidden fruit" of intemperance ? How many have debased their immortal souls by gluttony and inebri- ation, and thereby reduced themselves be- neath the most abject brute ? ? ? Let each begin the glorious work ol reformation, and our country will be blessed indeed ! ! ! ANTI-BACCHUS. From a London paper. PATENT. Mr. Ralph Wedgwood's (Burselcm,) for a Composition for making glass upon new princit les. Mr. Wedgwood makes use of alkaline salt, pieces or parts of China, or earthen- ware, pitchers, or pieces, of baked clay, old plaster moulds or calcareous earths, borax, siliceous earths, and terraponderosa. The alkaline salts and borax are to be used in a state of solution, and in this solution the pieces of china or earthen .ware, or baked clay, being first made red hot, are to be thrown : to these are te be added old plas- ter mould, or calcareous earth first slacking them in a solution of borax in water, and then the silecious earths and terra ponderosa are to be added, all which articles are to be ground together, and dried over a slow fire. If the alkaline sails and borax are used in a slate of powder, they are then to be used in the same manner as in the common process. When the several articles are ground toge- ther and dried, they are to be fused, and when in a state of perfect fusion, poured fror.j the melting pot into cold water. The proportions of the materials are from 10 to 30 parts in weight of alkaline salts, from li to 70 of water, of the pieces of China or earthem ware, from 50 to 150 parts, and if baked clay is used 80 to 100 parts. There are other proportions given, Mr. Boylston's Prize Questions. With the beneficent and laudable view of improving the art of medicine, and to excite practitioners to bring those talents to light, which might otherwise be useless to the community Ward Nicholas Boylston, esq. hath, by an instrument under his hand and seal, given the president and fellows of Harvard collage, in Cambridge, bearing date January 20th, 1803,'empowered and enabled that corporation to appoint annual- ly a committee skilled in subjects connected with tnedical, Anatomical, physical or chy- mical subjects, as they deem most useful, and the several authors of the best disserta- tion (in the judgment'of a majority of said committee) upon each of said subjects, which *hall be transmited or delivered to them, on or before the 2o:h of November next, after public notice given of said questi- ons, are entitled to receive of this commit- tee a prize medal (or the amount in money at their option) of such value, as to said committee shall seem proper ; provided the value of all the medals distributed, and the Koney thus paid in any one year, shall not exceed one hundred dollars. And the cor- poration having appointed Isaac Rand, M. D. Dr. Lemuel Heywood, John Warren, M. D. Dr. William Eustis, Dr. John Brooks, Benjamin Waterhouse, M. D. Aaron Dex- ter, M. D. William Spooner, M. D. and Dr. Josiah Bartlett, to be a committee to propound the questions above mentioned, and to carry into eilect Mr. Boylton's bene- volent purpose, they do hereby propose the following questions to all who cultivate me- dicine, or the sciences connected with it ; and do invite their attention to a discus- sion oi the several objects here laid beiore them. QUESTIONS. 1st. For the best dissertation on the differ- ence between mortification produced by an external cause, and shot, which arises horn a constitutional defect the diagnostics, and proper mode of treatment of each. 2d. For the best dissertation on the struc- ture and physiology of the skin, or external surface of the body, with a view to the di- agnostics, and cure of diseases usually deno- minated cutaneous. 3d. What are causes of the varieties ob- served in dysentery, and what the method of reatment adapted to the cure of these vari- eties ' At a meeting of the committee on the Boylston prize questions, at Boston, Dec. . 31, 1806. A dissertation on the first question, relat- ive to mortification, and one on the second relative to dysemeiy, having been.read and considered, the question was taken, whether they were respectively entitled to the premi- ums oikred, and determined in the affirma- tive. On opening the papers accompanying the dissertation, it appeared that the one on mor- tification was written by Dr. George Cheene Sin.:uck, of Teinpleton, in the county of Worcester ; and the one On dysentery, by Dr. jantel Mann, of Wrentham, in the county of Norfolk. Extract from the record, ISAAC RAND, Chairman. Boston, Jan. I, 1807. From Mungo Park's Travels in Africa. In a village near Sego, the capital of I'.am- barra, where he is said to have met his fate, bespeaks thus of his situation in his former travels : " 1 was obliged to sit all day without vic- tuals, in the shade of a tree ; and the night threatened to be very uncomfortable, for the wind rose, and there was great appearance of a heavy rain ; and the wild beasts are so very numerous in the neighborhood, that I should have b^en under the necessity of climbing; up the tree, and resting among the branches. About sunset, however, as 1 was preparing to pass the night in this manner, and had turned my horseloose, that he might graze at liberty, a woman, returning from the labors of the held, stopped to observe me, & perceiving that I was weary and dejected, inquired into my situation, which I briefly explained to her ; whereupon, with looks of great compassion, she took up my bridle & saddle, and told hie to icllow her. Having conducted me into her hut, she lighted a lamp, spread a mat on the floor, & told me that I might remain there for the night. Finding that I was very hungry, she said she would procure me something to eat. She accordingly went out, and returned in a short tinia with a very Cue fish-; which, having eaused to be half-broiled upon some embers, she gave me for supper. The rites of hospitality being thus performed towards a stranger in distress, my worthy benefac- tress (pointing to the mat, and telling jji'e that I might sleep there without apprehen- sion) c«iled to the female part of her family, who stood gazing on me all the while in fix- ed astonishment, to resume their task of spinning cotton, in which they continued to employ themselves great part of the night. They lightened their labors by songs, one of which was composed extempore ; for I was myself the subject of it. It was sung by one of the young women, the rest join- ing in a sort of chorus. The air was sweet and plaintive, and the words, literally trans- lated, were these—' The winds roared, and the rains fell. The" poor white man, faint and weary, came and sat under our tree. He had no mother to bring him milk, no wife to grind his com.' Chorus—' Let us pity the white man ; no mother has he,' &c, &C. Trifling as this recital may appear to the reader, to a person in my situation, the circumstance was affecting in the,highest degree. I was oppressed by this unexpect- In the mornfng 1 preser-ted my comprtssi- onate landlady with two of the four brass buttons which remained on mv waistcoat, the only recompence 1 could make her.'* bY THIS DAY'sMAlLL BOSTON January 13. Communication,—When Brennus, com- mander of the Gauls, had taken Rome, ho was offered a sum of money to leave the ci- ty. While the citizens were weighing it out, Camillus returned from an expedition, and observed to the French general, that-it, had ever been the custom with the Romans to ransom their country with steel instead i-f gold. Immediately after, Brer.!.- r'-va; over- thrown in a pitched battle. Our Camillus is dead, and we have paid the tribute to the Gauls. January 15. The Maine bank, at Portland, was forcibly entered in the night between Saturday and , Sunday last, and two thousand dollars in gold and silver stolen from thencs—SGO dol- lars reward is offered by the president of said bank, for thedetection of the thief or thieves and the security of the money. SPRINGFIELD, (Mass.) Jan. 7. On Friday, the mail stage, in attempt- ing to pass Connecticut river on the ict, about a mile below the bridge in this town, broke through. As the sleigh as well as the horses were plunged in six feet depth of water, it may be considered a happy cir- cumstance, that there were but three passen- gers in it—they escaped the danger without injury, by jumping en to the ice. Had the stage been crowded with passengers, as is often the case, it would have been hardly possible for those seated in the back part of it'to have saved their lives. The horses and sleigh were got out without material injury, though not without great difficulty, and risque. This breaking in, happened at a small distance from the spot where the ice gave way and let in^a sleigh about three weeks" ago, by which accident a young wo^ man was drowned. ALBANY, January 19. On Saturday afternoon last, one of the most afflicting and melancholy occurrences* took place in this vicinity, that it has ever been our painful duty to record. Miss Jane . Ann Lansing, eldest daughter of Sanders Lansing, esq. of this city, being on her way to Shodack, in a sleigh, in company with Gerrit Y. Lansing, esq. and two young la- dies, her connections, was drowned—The sleigh, it seemss, fell through the ice very suddenly, on one of the branches of the river about ten miles below town—and in the terror and confusion of the moment thq unfortunate Jean Ann was lost sight of by her companions. She is supposed to have sprung or been thrown out of the sleigh, and to have sunk, immediately under the ice. Providentially her companions were saved from sharing in her untimely and touch la* rhented fate. Her body was taken up in about an hour after the catastrophe, and was brought to town on Sunday afternoon. NEW-YORK, January 19. Arrived, the brig Generous Friend, Bar- ber, 26 days from Aracabessa, (Jam.) Left at Aracabessa, brig Second Attempt, Wil- liams, arrived. December 14, from Philadel- phia. At Rio-Bonoa, brig Pallas, -West, 30 days from New-York, arrived December 18. At Falmouth, ship Favorite, Mackie, of New-York, to sail in 6 days for Savannah. At Montego-Bay, brig Washington, Wat- ges, 17 days from New-York ; brig Geor- gia Packet, of New-York, to sail in 8 days for Savannah. The brig Little William, Cornell, of Nantucket, sailed from Araca- bessa, on the 10th ult. for Extlma. The brig Olivia, Teubner, from Guadeloupe, and 32 days from Antigua, where she was sent by the British. Passengers, H. Pailhes, H. Kirwan and A. A. Gauthier. Spoke, Dec. 25, lat.-28, 21, long. 67, sloop Black- bird, 8 days from Norfolk for Barbados; 26th, lat. 29, 11, long. 68, ship Draper, 10 days from New-York for Jamaica. Jan. 2, lat. 32, 20, long. 69, 30, scldr Henry. 3 days from Baltimore for Si. Bartholomews ; Mb., sch'r Thre« Friends, 3 d?ys from Norfolk for Grenada ; 10th, a schooner, 10 days from Boston for Georgetown. The sch'r John, Cattral, from Guadaloupe for N. Y. had been sent into Antigua by a privateer. [Part of the Olivia's cargo was e mdeinned.] The brig Argonaut, Folger, 47 days from Port-Antonio, Jam. The brig Sally, Pratt, had arrived In 16 days from M. Y. The Bri-- tish brig Lady Nugent, wasto sail in lOdays for N. Y. Jan. 10,' in lat. 37, long. 72, 30, spoke the sloop Argus, Wiswall, from Long- Island for Georgetown. Left at L. Island, Dec. 28, brig Victory, Macey ; sch'r Gil- ' bert, Fosuick, of Nantucket ; cap'.. T alcott,' from St. Thomas for N. London, and capt. Kerry, for Charleston, all loading with salt, Jan. 10, about 80 leagues from Sandy-Hook, was boarded by the British cutter Sylvia, from N. Y. and had John Crow, of Amboy, and James Pratt, seamen, pressed. The boat of the Argonaut was ordered along-side of the cutter, with the brig's papers—on her return, tha boat filled and sunk, and it was with difficulty the people in her were saved. Capt. F. then hailed the cutter, said he was in distress for provisions, but they answer- ed that they had no boat, and stood off. Tfia treatment which capt. F. received, he state* as inhuman and abusive. The brig Georgia, Jocelin, 8 days from Sa- vannah. The brig Governor Trumbull, Burr, 8 days fowl Charleston. The sch'r Eliza, Augur, of N. Haven, j& days from St. Thomas. Left brig Grey- hound, Smith, of N. Haven, to sail 29th, for Barcelona ; ship Manning, Salter, of Portsmouth ; brig Celia, MvKenzie, for N. York. Jan. 11, spoke ship Jupiter, 24 hours from Charleston for Europe. The schooner Betsy, Hughes, 21 days from St. Jago-de-Ctvba. Sailed in co. sen's Greyhound, Hctnies,for Baltimore, and Wei-' come Return, Hurst, of Norfolk, for Charlies- ton, and spoke the formcron the lifh inst, ¦ and parted from her the next day in Urt, 26, king. SO. The sclir. Nancy, Graft of Salem, sailed l:J .: a tbrPliilad but on. accurate regard, to them is no* abso-! cd kindness, and sleep fled km eyes,- 'phjjf Uft, scte. Experiment,-. Be |