it, and went to the king to have it ftruck out and altered; he faid it was paffed and he would take it upon him-nor could twenty guineas- move the under fecretary to vary the name; for I feared, left it fhould be looked upon as a vanity in me, and not as a respect of the king, as it truly was, to my father, whom he often mentioned with praile. Thou mayeft communicate my grant to friends, and expect my propofals; it is a clear and juft thing; and my God that has given it me, through many difficulties, will, I believe, blefs and make it the feed of a nation. I fhall have a tender care to the government, that it -be well laid at firft. No more now but dear love in the truth.

W. PENN.

1ft Mo. 5th, 1681.

WHEN Voltaire vifited England, in the early part of his life, and was engaged in foliciting a fubfcription for his Henriade, which first appeared uuder the title of the “League," he published, in our language, an effay on epic poetry; a work, which, though written under fuch difadvantages, poffeffes the peculiar vivacity of this extraordinary writer, and indeed is fo curious a fpecimen of his verfatile talents, that although it has been fuperfeded by a French compofition of greater extent, under the fame title, it ought, I think, to have found a place in that fignal monument to the name of Voltaire-the edition of his works in ninety-two volumes.

As my reader may be gratified in feeing the English ftyle of this celebrated er, I will tranfcribe, without abridgement, what he fays of Andreini :

86

"Milton, pierced through the abfurdity || Mentz till after the capture of it by Adolof that performance to the hidden majeftyphus de Naffau, on the 17th of October, of the fubject, which being altogether unfit 1462, is now contradicted by the edition of for the ftage, yet might be (for the genius a book printed at Bamberg, a town far off of Milton and for his only) the foundation from Mentz fhortly after the 1st of May, of an epic poem. 1402.-London Pap.

Milton, as he was travelling through Italy in his youth, faw at Florence, a comedy called, Adamo, written by one Andrein, a player, & dedicated to Mary de Medicis, Queen of France. The fubject of the play, was the Fall of Man; the actors, God, the devils, the angels, Adam, Eve, the ferpent, death, and the feven mortal fins. The topic, fo improper for drama, but fo fuitable to the abfurd genius of the Italian ftage (as it was at that time) was handled in a manner entirely conformable to the extravagance of the defign. The fcene opens with a chorus of angels, and a cherubim thus fpeaks for the reft :- Let the rainbow be the fiddle- ftick of the fiddle of the heavens! let the planets be the notes of our mufic! let time beat carefully the measure, and the winds make the fharps,' &c. Thus the play begins, and every fcene rifes above the laft in profusion of impertinence!

"He took from that ridiculous trifle the first hint of the nobleft work which huwhich he executed more than twenty years man imagination has ever attempted, and after.

"In the like manner Pythagoras owed the invention of mufic to the noife of the hammer of a black fmith; and thus, in our days, Sir Ifaac Newton, walking in his garden, had first thought of his fyftem of gravitation, upon feeing an apple falling from a

tree.

"It was thus, that in the year 1727, Voltaire, then studying in England, and collecting all poffible information concerning our great epic poet, accounted for the origin of Paradise Loft."

197

Improvements.

FROM A PORTLAND PAPER.

PORTLAND PATENT rum.

DANIEL ILSLEY, of this town, who, for a number of years, has been concerned in the diftilling bufinefs, has invented a new and useful improvement, which has not been known or used before this application; and for which he has obtained a Patent.

PRINTING.

IN the National Library at Paris, fome
parts of the Bible have been found tranfla
ted into German, and printed at Bamberg
by Albert Peifter, in 1462. The charac-
ters are moveable; like thofe now made ufe
of; their form is large Gothic, fuch as was
then used to write miffals; the date and
place of the printing, as well as the name
of the printer, are at the end of the book,
printed in the fame characters as the rest of
the work; the German expreffions joined
to thofe dates, leaves no doubt that it is
not to the compofition of the book, but to
the printing alone that the date 1462 is to
be applied. The difcovery of this book is
foreign-important in the Hiftory of Printing on the
following account :-The firft book (paf-wine
fing over one or two fmall works) printed
in movable characters, with a certain date of
the year; is the Pfalter of 1457, reprinted
in 1459. From that epoch to the year 1462,
in which the Bible printed at Mentz by
know of no work bearing the date of the
John Fuft and P. Schoeffer appeared, we
printing. Yet the Bible of 1462 is cer-
tainly not the firft printed; ancient authors
affert, that from the year 1450 the edition
of the Bible in miffal characters was begun ;
characters which are not thofe employed in
the Mentz edition. Befides, there are
doubts refpe&ting the places in which prin-
and Stratfbourg, have their partizans.
ting was first exercised. Mentz, Harlem,
and Stratibourg, have their partizans.
pretend, that ftill the year 1462 printing
Those of Mentz are very exclufive: they
was not till the troubles which followed the
capture of it in 1462, that the workmen
of Fuft and Schoffer were difperfed, and
carried their art to different places. But
the fact, that printing was not carried from

The following account contains fome of the advantages, as flated in the words of faid Daniel Ilfley to the Government :

"The Subscriber reprefents, that hav ing for a long time been familiar, both in theory and practice with the business of diflength fucceeded in difcovering an imtilling Spirits, he has contemplated, and at provement in that art, which will greatly facilitate the procels, and which will produce fpirits of a better quality and in greater quantity with lefs time and labour than is applied in the common mode of diftilling. ft. He is able to produce, by the aid of this discovery, high proof rum, equal in flavour to any which is imported, and entirely free from that difagreeable fmell and tafte which has rendered the rum of this country inferior to that of the Weft Indies. 2d. All the fpirit may be taken from the great copper and be good first proof rum, without leaving ary low wines; copper, or the fpirit may be wholly this of courfe will render ufelefs a low made third or fourth proof rum, and be required to produce firft proof by the comproduced in lefs time by two hours than is mon process."

FROM A LONDON PAPER.

AT Wolfen-buttle, a compofition has been invented to prevent combustible subflances from taking fire. It confifts of a powder, made of one ounce of fulphur, one fortify wood against fire, it is first to be of red ochere, and fix of copperas. To covered with glue, over which the powder is fpread. This procefs is to be repeated three or four times. For linen and paper, water is ufed inflead of glue, and the procefs repeated twice. If this powder be thrown on fubftances actually in combuftion, in the proportion of two ounces to a fquare foot, it will inftantly extinguifh the fire.

Be it our weekly task,

To note the passing tidings of the times.

>>>>>>808<<<<ce

Hudson, June 21, 1803.

CURIOSITY.

This city is fupplied with water from a fountain about two miles diftant, by means of an aqueduct. For feveral weeks, the pipes in the lower end of Warren-Street, had been almoft completely dry, while in every other part of the city, the water run with its ufual force. This led to an examination of the main conduit pipe (formed of logs) when it was difcovered, that the roots of a willow tree, had found their way through the joints of a private pipe, and from thence had proceeded to the main pipe, where they had grown and increafed to fuch an immenfe number of fine fibres, that the bore of the main log, for about 20 feet, was entirely filled up. On further examination, it was alfo found that the private pipe, from whence the roots had proceeded, was full of roots for the fame or a greater diftance, making in the whole, about 40 feet!

The feparate roots were not larger than common wire, but were fo clofely and firmly matted together, as to form a mafs almoft folid.

By the attention and vigilance of the Collector of Amboy, fome perfons have lately been difcovered to be concerned in the nefarious bufinefs of fmuggling. They had the addrefs to get four puncheons of rum from on board a floop from Montego Bay, (Jamaica) bound to this port, which they landed and fecreted for a fhort time; but fortunately they were foon after difcovered, feized, libelled and condemned. On this the floop Virginia Rathway trader, in which the rum had been brought to fhore, was libelled in the Diftrict Court of New-Jerfey, and con. demned alfo. Suits are now depending against the mafter of this veffel and the other perfons engaged in this bufinefs, for the penalties prefcribed by the revenue acts of Congrefs for offences of this defcription. [All the New-York papers.]

An American Merchant at New-Orleans, under date of May 17th, writes to his correfpondent in this city per the brig Union as follows:-"The pleafing account, that Generel Wilkinfon has received the Royal Proclamation for OPENING

THE PORT OF NEW ORLEANS,
reached us this morning. It has already
given to our business a confiderable degree
of activity." [N. Y. Mer. Adv.]

PHILADELPHIA, JUNE 4
CAUTION AGAINST FIRE.

On Thursday morning, between one and two o'clock, having left a candle burning in the room, on account of the indifpofition of one of my children, I was alarmed by the smoke and heat which I felt. My Wife and I immediately stepped out of bed, and finding the floor fo hot as to burn our feet, we fnatched up the Children and ran down without clothes into the street, not knowing from whence the fire proceeded. The neighbours were foon alarmed and CHILLICOTHE, MAY 27. came to our affiftance-Jofeph Connover, "We have had an alarm from the InRobert Bayne and Alexander Buckhannan, rushed into the room, and perceiving dians, two white men have been killed and that the fire was between the ceiling and wounded, and one Indian of the Shawathe floor, broke in part of the latter with an nefe nation-I have juft returned from axe from whence the flames immediately the Frontiers, and am happy to find that it bu: forth, but were foon happily extin- has originated from private quarrels with guilhed by the activity of my Neighbours. individuals who have fuffered, and without It appears that a rat must have carried the the knowledge of the chicls, who are very lighted candle to its neft which being com- forry on hearing of the affair, and fincere. pofed of rags eafily caught fire. One of ly difpofed to cultivate peace and harmony the Joils was nearly burnt through. Iwith the white people. We have impruconfider it my duty, in this public man- dent men fettled on our frontiers, and the ner, to acknowledge my obligation to my Indians have inconfiderate young warriors neighbours, and to caution people again amongst them. It requires much pru keeping a candle burning at nignt.-Adence and addrefs to keep both fides in lamp in cafes of neceffity would be perfectly fate.

order.

FRANCIS DAYMON,

No. 96 Catharine fireet.
WASHINGTON, (KEN.) MAY 26.

INDIAN HOSTILITIES.

Mr. Daniel Wall, who arrived from Natchez on Monday laft, has been polite enough to give us the following important though melancholy intelligence.

As one Jofeph White, a Mr. Stapleton and our informant were paffing through the wilderness together, they were fired on by two Indians who lay in ambush by the road fide. There must have been two balls in each of the Indian's guns, as that number paffed thro' White's breaft which inftantly

A few nights before this attack, which was on Friday the 13th inft. our informant was told, a party had been fired on 5 times, were drove from their camp, and loft all their money and a gun, but no perfon was killed or wounded. On the 15th, another party was attacked, and puriued 7 or 8 miles by perlons on horseback. As our informant paffed through the nation, he faw a Mr. Patterson, from near Lexington, who had a few days before been badly wounded in the fhoulder and arm by the favages.

terminated his exiftance and the fame
through our informant's hat. Two other
Indians were flanding off a few yards who
did not fire, but attempted to catch the hor-
fes that were following with the packs, and
that of the deceafed, but did not effect it..
The furvivors were purfued feveral miles,
the Indians frequently appearing in fight,
and among them a white man was plainly
difcovered. When they arrived at Duck
river fettlement, about 15 miles on this fide
of the place where the attack was made, a
party went back and got the money, which
our informant and his companion had hid,
but faw nothing of the Indians, nor could
they find Mr. Wall's horfe,

||

Extract of a letter from Edward Tiffin, Efq. Governor of the state of Ohio, to a gentleman of Baltimore, dated

From the Chillicothe Gazette, May 28. In our laft we flated fome of the cir cumstances of an alarm which took place in this town, on the morning of publica tion, in confequence of the murder of Capt. Herod fuppofed to have been per petrated by Indians ;--As is reafonable to be expected, from the confafed and vari

ous accounts from the fcene of action at that moment in circulation, we might in fome parts be incorrect. That Captain Herod was found fhot, fcalped and tomahawked, is a fact, but by whom is not yet afcertained that a party of Indians had been previously feen in that neighborhood was premature. The party who went from this town in purfuit of the depreda tors fcoured the country for a confiderable distance, in which they met with fev eral Indian encampments but the Indians appeared to have no knowledge of the e vent at Old Chillicothe and when inform ed of it, expreffed their difapprobation of the at-that they were dilpofed for peace

and that if Herod was killed by an Indian, they would endeavor to find him out and deliver him up.-Some of the party were out until yesterday, with a view of informing fuch Indians as they might meet with, the real ftatement of the above tranf action.

An unfortunate occurrence, however,

took place on Monday evening, follow- || ing:-A Mr. Wolff, living a fhort diftance from Old Chillicothe, apprehending that fome difagreeable confequences might enfue from the death of Capt. Herod, took with him Mr. Williams, Mr. Ferguson, and two lads, for the purpofe of driving up the cattle from the prairie; they had not long been on the fearch, when they difcovered an Indian coming towards them -they foon met-atter fome conversation, Wolff introduced the fubject of the murder of Captain Herod ;-The Indian appeared alarmed and was moving off: fome fufpicions arifing with Wolff and Williams that he was intent on mischief, agreed to fire on him; they rofe up, Wolff fhot and the Indian fell, but inftantly rifing he shot in turn at Williams and he fell, the ball paffed through his body.-Wolff and the Indian clinched, each having a knife; fortunately for Wolff, one of the lads coming to his affiftance the Indian retreated about 200 yards, where he was found dead the next day. Williams died the fame night, but Wolff though feverely wounded in the thigh by a flab with the knife, will recover.

Notwithstanding the latter unfortunate tranfaction, we feel confident, that after a fair and just reprefentation is made to the tribes, that the firft tranfaction, in all probability, originated from private quarrel and the latter confequently following, together with the exertions making by the executive, in forwarding an exprefs to the chiefs of the tribes, giving them accurate information of circumftances, &c. that a reconciliation will be effected, and that all danger of hoftilities will vanish. Already the fears of the inhabitants, near the old town are fo far removed that they are returning to their fields and profecuting their ufual labours.

row.

confidently reported, would foon return || country, the Houfe ought to meet to-mor
to the Miniftry-The infurrection in the
Turkish Empire becomes daily more for-
midable-Bonaparte is determined to have
the Emperor of Germany either his friend

or enemy.

NEW-YORK, JUNE 11.

The fhip Martin, Capt. Clark, arrived here yesterday in 35 days from Falmouth, England, brings London dates to the 2d May inclufive, one day later than thofe received via Bofton. It appears, that preparations for hoftilities were ftill progreffing-Sir Edward Pellew, was on board the La Tourant, at Falmouth waiting for men-A hot prefs was fil carri ed on, but there were few feamen to be found; report fays they had fled to France for fecurity-Lord St. Vincent, it was expected, would refign his feat at the Admiralty Board and be fucceeded by Lord Melville-The Channel fleet had not failed, owing to want of feamen-a number of fhip carpenters having been detected in fraudulent practices by Earl St. Vincent, at his late vifit of infpection, were discharged, and have fince entered into the fervice of the French Republic-Mr. Pitt, it was

The French fhips at Helvoet fleys deftined for Louifiana have been confiderably damaged by the ftorms they have lately had at that place.

The cabinet of Vienna and Berlin will, it is understood, preferve a ftrict neutrality in the event of a rupture between France and Great Britain.

The fhip John, Morgan had dropped
down from London to take Mr. King on
board, and it is fuppofed fhe must have fail-
ed for New-York about the 8th ultimo.
[Com. Advi.]

JUNE 16.

The fhip American, captain Thompson,
arrived at quarantine yesterday afternoon
in 28 days from Londonderry. She left
there on the 15th May, and has furnished
us with Irifh papers to the 10th. In addi-
tion to the fubjoined extract, we have ver-
bal information from captain Thompfon
and Mr. Wm. Sterling, (who came paffen-
ger in the American) that the North and
Channel Fleets were out, and had received
orders to blockade the French ports; that
Lord Whitworth and General Andreoffi
were preparing to return home, in confe-
quence of inftructions from their respective
Governments; that the impreffment of
feamen in England and Ireland was carry-
ing on with unabated vigour, and extended
in many cafes to perfons of 60 years old;
and that every appearance indicated that
France and Great Britain would speedily
"cry Havock, and let flip the dogs of
War."
[Mer. Adur.]

BELFAST, MAY 10.

News-Letter Office, May 10th, 10 o'clock, A. M.

We stop the prefs to flate the arrival of
the London papers of Friday laft, (May
6th.) In a fecond edition of the Courier
we find the following most important, tho'
moft unwelcome intelligence:

WAR.
Houfe of Commons, quarter before Five
o'clock.

Mr. Addington has juft declared to the
the
Houfe, that he expects Lord Whitworth in
this country very speedily, and that Gen.
Andreofli has applied this morning for
paffports for his return. At the fame time
Mr. Addington ftated, that the official
communication could not be made to this
Houte till his Lordship's arrival in this
country. He then moved that the Honfe
at its rifing fhould adjourn to Monday.

Mr. Fox objected to this Motion-he thought, under the circumftances of the

Lord Hawkesbury could not conceive that any injury would arife from the delay propofed.

Mr. Grey moved an Amendment,, "That the House fhould only adjourn till to-morrow, instead of Monday."

Mr. Canning fupported Mr. Grey's amendment.

LONDON, MAY 1.

IT was flated, with much confidence, that the Chief Conful had indignantly rejected the ultimatum of our Cabinet.-Our minifters are faid to have required that the French troops fhould be withdrawn from Holland, and the Batavian Republic rendered independent of France, as the only conditions on which they would confent to forego the advantages which the poffe feffion of Malta gave them in the Mediterranean-but these terms conceded, that they would inftantly evacuate the island.

With equal confidence it was afferted, that the Dutch minifter at Paris had reprefented to the Confular Cabinet, the hoftile appearance of a Britifh fquadron cruifing off the Batavian coaft, and requiring from France the auxiliary force, which by treaty, each power is bound to render to the other in the event of actual or threatened invafion.

The

COLUMBIAN

"HAIL SACRED POLITY, BY FREEDOM REAR'D !

HAIL SACRED FREEDOM, WHEN BY LAW RESTRAIN'D !"

HUDSON, (NEW-YORK) TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 1803.