Monmouthshire Merlin

DISASTROUS STORM AT SUNDERLAND. — (From the Durham Chronicle of Satllrday.)-During the night of Tues- day last, and the whole of the following day, the wind blew so tremendously from the north-east, that not fewer than eighteen vessels were, within that short period, stranded upon the coast between Sunderland Pier and Hendon, including a distance of iihmit half a. "1", tho wholf nf wliifli have already, or will shortly, become perfect wrecks. What renders the catastrophe more deplorably calamitous is, that most of these vessels were driven ashore at low water, the most unfavourable crisis of the tide, by which they were precipitated on the rocky part of the coast, where wreck was inevitable. It is to be apprehended that the loss sustained on other parts of the coast, if not equally ex- tensive, must have been very great. The pier, during the whole of Wednesday, exhibited a scene of deplorable distress. Wives and children were assembled upon it in great numbers, witness- ing the appalling scene of their relatives apparently approaching to certain destruction, piteously deprecating the mercy and inter- position of Heaven for their deliverance. One little vessel, a sloop belonging to Mr. Hill, of Monkwearmouth, who, with his son, formed part of the crew, foundered at a short distance from the pier, under the most heart-rending circumstances. She had left the port the preceding day, with every indication and likeli- hood of a quick and prosperous voyage. Being driven back again however, by the violence of this unanticipated change of weather^ she attempted to enter this harbour; but when she neared the mouth of the river, she was dismasted by a heavysea, and al- most instantly afterwards was thrown stem upwards by a tremen- dous breaker. To this part of the vessel the crew were lashed, and the most prompt and vigorous efforts were exerted to get out the life-boat to extricate them from so perilous a situa- tion, but the attempt was, after repeated trials, abandoned as impracticable, the violence of the sea rendering thewat unmanageable—snapping the strongest oars like twigs, and thus precluding advance. The vessel, however, could not main- tain so unsteady and precarious a position long. In a few mi- nutes she was engulphed in the waves by one of those periodical breakers which are known by nautical men to be more than com- monly disastrous, when every soul on board perished. The hands of the unfortunate sufferers were for a moment seen stretched helplessly and imploringly above the waves; and the conscious- ness of those on shore, that no available assistance could be ex- tended to them, rendered the scene indescribably distressing. Three of the crew (four in all) have been since found and con- veyed to the workhouse, where they will remain till they are identified. The coast exhibits a melancholy picture of desolation, the shattered remains of vessels being scattered all along it— hulls, rigging, masts, yards, &c. in miscellaneous disorder and confusion. The four individuals of this vessel are the only lives belonging to this port, as yet known to be lost on this distressing occasion, which is indeed extraordinary, considering the uncom- mon severity of the gale and the extent of the wrecks. FURTHER PARTICULARS.—The long-continued northerly winds had last week nearly emptied the port of Sunderland of loaded ships; but the wind veering round to the southward, an unusually large fleet of light colliers, supposed 300 sail, entered the port on Monday and Tuesday last. About twelve, some of them large and valuable ships, were not permitted to take the harbour on Tuesday, and some of them, when almost within the pier, stood out again, in order to cast their ballast. The consequence was, that before the return of tide, and when riding at anchor unbal- lasted, they were overtaken by a most tremendous gale from the north-east, which drove every one of them ashore. During the night, or in the course of next day, no less than sixteen were stranded, most of them total wrecks, within a mile south of South Pier. A laden sloop, in attempting to harbour, in the afternoon of Wednesday, struck on the South Rocks, went down instanta- neously, and the crew, four in number, two of whom were father and son, perished. We have heard of no other loss of lives; but the loss of property thus wantonly thrown away, and which might have been prevented at the expence of a few shillings (by bring- ing in their ballast the preceding tide), is estimated at not much less than £ 20,000. The heavy rains which fell on Tuesday and Wednesday last had the effect of swelling the river Wear to such an extent, that it overflowed its banks to a considerable depth in this neighbour- hood. We have not heard of any damage worth noticing having been caused. On the banks of the Tees, however, we understand there has been great destruction. The Tyne, too, we hear, was very high; but of the effects of the flood in that river we have not received any information. Our correspondent at Barnardcastle says, that the river Tees was swollen to an unusual height. About one o'clock on Wed- nesday morning the street at the bridge-end was covered with water, which forced its way into several dwelling houses, from which the inhabitants had to run into the street for safety, and some of them narrowly escaped being drowned. Considerable damage was done to the spinning manufactory, and much furni- ture was destroyed. The new bridge that was building at Whorlton, and was in a forward state, was swept away by the flood; and it is feared that much damage will have been done on the low grounds further down the river. DARING ROBBERY.-The following daring burglary and robbery was committed last week at the house of Mr. Burghart, an extensive tailor and draper, No. 17, Clifford-street, Bond- street, very near the house of Messrs. Stultz, tailors, whose pre- mises were broken into a few nights before. Mr. Burghart stated to the Magistrates at Bow-street that about two o'clock Mrs. Burghart was suddenly awoke by some- thing like a noise in the house, as she thought, but after she had awakened, she could hear nothing of the kind, and supposing that it was a dream, she went to sleep again. Shortly after he (Mr. Burghart) was also awoke with the same sort of impression that there was some noise in the house, but neither could he hear any thing to disturb him after he was roused, but he was rather surprised to hear, at that unseasonable hour, the noise of a coach rattling along the street in front of his house, which made, he thought, a much greater noise than such vehicles usually did. He listened for a minute or two, when, to his still greater sur- prise, the coach suddenly stopped, and that too, as appeared to him, very near his own door. At last he bethought him to look out at his window and satisfy his curiosity, when, to his utter astonishment, he saw that the coach was drawn up at his own door, and he distinctly observed and counted six men on the hall door steps, busily employed in doing something that he could not at that distance clearly ascertain he called out to them as loud as he could to know what they did there, and at the same time, in almost the same breath, called for the police but the instant his voice was heard, the six men scampered off in different direc- tions, and the coach drove away with all possible speed another course. On going down stairs, the first intimation that he (Mr. Burghart) had that any robbery had been really committed was by stumbling over several pieces of cloth in the street-door pas- sage but on examining further, when the police were admitted, he discovered that upwards of six hundred pounds worth of cloth, waistcoats, silks, &c., had been removed from his back ware- house or workshop, more than one half of which was carried clear off in the coach, no doubt, and trie remainder left behind in the passage, owing to the thieves being disturbed in their operations. On examining the premises to ascertain how the burglary had been effected, it was discovered that the thieves, with a crow- bar, forced up the iron railing over the area to the kitchen in the street, and having thus descended, or at least one of them, an easy access was found to the lower part of the house, and from thence to the wareroom and the street-door, which there was little difficulty in opening inside to admit the others of the party, and convey out the goods. There was no person whatever, it appears, who slept in the lower part of the house, which is un- dergoing a partial repair, Mr. Burghart and the whole family sleeping up stairs. It was a. singular circumstance, too, Mr. Burghart said, that a little terrier dog which he had in the house, and which was a most watchful creature, always giving an alarm at the least noise at night, was missed on Tuesday last, and could not any where be found until that morning about three o'clock, when the alarm of the robbery was given and the police at the door, the little animal, to his (Mr. Burghart's) surprise, walked into the hall, frisking his tail, and there could be little doubt that he had been in the possession of the thieves. Mr. Burghart, in the course of his account of the robbery, said that the six men he observed on the steps of his door appeared to be all very well dressed men, and one of them he could clearly see had a black band or crape round his hat. The coach, he said, which was clearly a hackney one, was one of the largest and heaviest he had ever seen, and made an unusually loud noise.— It appears that some time ago Mr. Burghart prosecuted a man in his employ for dishonesty, and the prisoner was convicted and sentenced to seven years' transportation, but the sentence was afterwards commuted to imprisonment, which is said to have very recently expired, and that the man is discharged, and upon this man, who is known to some of the officers, a suspicion would seem to rest. The thieves left a large crow-bar, and also what is called a "jemmy" behind them. There is no doubt the crack" was done by old and accomplished thieves, who had taken the oppor- tunity, while the policeman was at a distant part of his beat, to enter the house and carry off the property. Scarcely a burglary of any consequence has been committed for several years past without the assistance of a hackney coachman and it is well known to the police that at this moment many of the hackney coaches are driven by notorious thieves. To put an effectual check to the commission of burglaries, the licence should be granted solely to the coachman, who should be obliged to produce testimonials of his good character before he received his license. EXECUTION.—Monday morning at the usual hour a vast crowd assembled at the front of Newgate to witness the execution of Josiah Nathan, alias Joseph Latham, alias Josiah Jones, for burglary IVichard Cliick, for a like OITCULC and Richard Gif- ford, for personating one William Green and obtaining E125 Three per Cent. Consols in his name, and also for personating one Richard Mann, and obtainingf27 in his name, at the Bank of England. It appears that a pal of Nathan's was executed in July last, and then confessed that himself and the culprit Nathan had been concerned in above eighty different burglaries, and that they were also in one at the house of a Mr. Newton, Nathan was apprehended, and the burglary clearly proved against him. The thieves on that occasion left a hairy cap on the premises, which was proved to have been worn by Nathan. The Sheriffs having arrived, and every thing being in prepa- ration, Nathan was brought into the Bread-room he appeared sullen and reserved, but bowed to Mr. Wontner and the Sheriffs, requesting also of the executioner's assistant to bind his handker- chief over his eyes. Richard Chick entered with irons on, which fact, the custom having been abolished -for several years, was explained by an intimation that about a. month ago he and four others had pro- jected a desperate plan for escaping, by breaking through the ceiling. The plan, however, was discovered before any attempt was made, and the prisoners who were concerned in it were all put in irons. A person was now waiting in the room to knock off his irons, which were effected easily, the prisoner himself rendering every assistance, and being perfectly cool. The offence for which he was doomed to suffer was a burglary in the house of Mr. Wilson, a mercer, in Sun-street, Bishopsgate. He was indicted with his wife, and with a man and wife named Elliott, but the three last were acquitted. Property to the amount of X400 was stolen from Mr. Wilson's, and a watchman deposed that on the morning of the robbery he saw Chick take a great quantity of goods away in a light cart. The entrance was effected from the adjoining house, which had been hired by a person who absconded after the robber. Chick now kissed Mr. Wontner's hand, and was bound without a word. Gifford on being brought in seemed perfectly resigned to, and prepared for, his fate. Some persons were in the room, who had known him, with his friends, in happier days, and they appeared perhaps more affected than himself. In answer to a remark from the Rev. Mr. Cotton, he said that he was perfectly reconciled, and died happy. The unfortunate men were then conducted to the scaffold, which they ascended with no apparent dread. Gifford thanked Mr. Wontner in very strong terms for the interest he had taken for him. Nothing occurred more than usual on these distressing occasions, and in a few minutes the thffce culprits were no more. STATE OF TRADE.—If there should be, at this time of the year, any such improvement in the state of trade, as should raise the wages of the in manufactures, we might anticipate a very great amendment in the spring, for the present season is not usually one of brisk demand. When we hear that the half-starved weavers have received an addition to their wages, we shall then acknowledge with much satisfaction that things are really mending. But this improvement has not yet been afforded us, and we fear that we have yet some commercial dis- tress to encounter, ere the condition of tae working manufacturers be improved. We may, indeed, have some weeks in which a great quantity of goods may be sold. We may, for instance, have the merchants of the north of Europe coming into the market and buying largely, ere the continent is shut against them by frost. But, such merely temporary briskness will not affect prices. The cotton manufacturer has a long winter before him, and will not, at its commencement, cripple himself by keeping up a stock, even at the present low rates, much less at an ad- vance. Besides, another effect of the generally diffused distress will now come into operation. It is well known that the manu- facturers who produce goods for the home market, do not sell them directly to the retail shopkeepers. They pass through the hands of intermediate merchants. Now, as long as those merch- ants are able to stand their ground, the failure of country drapers is comparatively little felt in the manufacturing districts. While the London wholesale houses stand, the Manchester, Bolton, and Stockport manufacturers of goods for the home trade feel but little of the distress. But the capital of the intermediate houses is rapidly being diminished by the compositions and assignments that are taking place all over the country, and as their business is as rapidly falling into the hands of a few monied men, who, by their command of ready cash, can take advantage of the general distress; there can be little doubt that many of them will be unable to meet their engagements, and that thus a seemingly new source of embarrassment wIll arise. These remarks are sug- gested to us by circumstances that have come within our know- ledge. Wre should rejoice to finJ our conclusion to be incorrect, but we feel it our duty to state them to our readers, who will lose nothing by continuing to exercise that caution, which, since last Christmas we have been recommending, but, on the contrary, may avoid much embarrassment and loss. Manchester Times. The reports of an improvement in trade, though yet re-echoed by few journals at a distance from where the proofs can be ex- amined, are now beginning to die away, and when the partial movements caused by the demands for the winter trade have sub- sided, we shall cease to hear one word more concerning them. A change must take place in the financial policy of government, ere any for the better can be felt throughout the nation and this the people may rest assured of, whatever reports they may hear to the contrary. Matters are now so rapidly progressing towards a. final crisis, that we believe we shall soon have that change, because ministers will be obliged either to give way or relinquish their places but to talk of any thing like real improvement until then, is just as idle as to talk of the immediate commencement of Edward Irving's Millenium. The agriculturists are now beginning to suffer not less dreadfully than the commercial classes. Markets are every where falling, and never at any former period, was the cattle trade in so deplorable a condition. A few weeks ago, at the Dumfries market, which, taken generally, is the greatest for black cattle in Scotland, bullocks were purchased for Brough-hill fair at a reduction of 30s per head, and after being driven to the fair in question, were there disposed of at a farther reduction of other 30s per head, not including the expences of keeping or driving Nay many possessors of large lots actually drove them back to Scotland unsold, rather than accept the prices that were offered to them. We know personally several instances of this. The late great cattle fair at Ballinasloe, in Ireland, has been equally bad and that at Falkirk during the present week, has been even worse. Sheep, on an average, were 5s a head lower than at the last Tryst; West Highland bullocks about 30s a head lower since last year and on many lots of Aberdeenshire, An- gus -shire, and Fifeshire cattle, the fall per head was to the extent of £3. It is painful to state such melancholy facts but there is this at least to mitigate the gloom they naturally inspire that they prove a state of things too bad much longer to last.-Glas- gow Free Press. GLAMORGANSHIRE RACES.—TUESDAY, OCT. 13.— The Glamorganshire Stakes of 25 sovs. each, 15 forfeit, and only 5 if declared, &c. with 50 sovs. added by the Corporation and town of Cardiff. Two-mile heats. Mr. Richards named Forester Lass. 1 1 Mr. I. Day's Nimrod 2 dr A Free Plate of £50. Weight for age. Two-mile heats. Mr. I. Day's Little Boy Blue 1 1 Mr. Richards's Duce 2 2 A Silver Cup given by J. M. Richards, Esq. for farmers' or tradesmen's horses. Two-mile heats. Doncaster King's Plate weights. Mr. Evans's Ann. 2 1 Mr. French's Game Boy 1 2 Mr. Richard's Emperor. 3 dis Mr. Richards's Bomb Proof. dis WEDNESDAY.—A Handicap Plate, given by the town of Car- diff, for any horse, &c. Two-mile heats. Mr. Thome's Forester Lass 4 1 1 Mr. Richards's Duce 5 3 2 Mr. Howell's Mynyddyslwyn 3 4 3 Mr. Day's Nimrod 1 2 dr Captain Peel's Bo-peep 2 5 dr A Sweepstakes of 10 sovs. each, for any horse, &c. Weight for age. Two-mile heats. Mr. Day's Boy Blue 1 1 Mr. Richards's Duce 2 2 A Sweepstakes of 3 sovs. each, Handicap, for horses not tho- rough-bred; gentlemen riders. Mr. Jenner's Jewess 1 1 Mr. Moggridge's Small Hopes 2 2 A aaver Cup, tor horses, &c. the property ot non-commissioned officers and privates belonging to the Eastern Glamorgan Yeo- manry Cavalry, was won by Mr. Thomas Yorath's g. m. beating two others; and Mr. Richards's Cup by Mr. Evans's b. m. Ann, beating one other. COURT OF KING'S BENCH, TUESDAY. —Sir James Jelf v. Oriel.-Mr. Campbell (with whom was Mr. Broderick) stated that this was an action upon a bill of exchange for £ 200, diawn by the defendant, and accepted by Lord Audley. The learned counsel had heard it hinted that the defence to this action was, that it was an usurious transaction but how usury could be established he was at a loss to know. He then proved the hand-writing of the defendant and Lord Audley. Mr. Denman (as now addressed by Lord Tenterden, from his having been raised from Common Sergeant to the dignity of King's Counsel) intimated to his Lordship, that although the bill was accepted, and made payable at Sir James Esdaile's bank, yet the following words were added in another hand- writing-" or at No. 18, Poland-street, Oxford-street." This last sentence was included in the allegation, which was clearly bad, as it stated the sentence to be a part of the acceptance, and that the bill was made payable at Poland-street, when, in fact, the acceptance only made it payable at Sir James Esdaile's. Mr. Campbell submitted, that this case was the very one which came within a recent Act of Parliament, and hoped that his Lordship would permit them to amend the declaration, as it was clearly an oversight by the special pleader. Lord Tenterden said, that it was a blunder by negligence, and not an oversight that could have been committed, if proper care had been used. Mr. Campbell-Would your Lordship allow justice to be de- feated by an accidental slip of this sort by the special pleader. Lord Tenterden-I am not going to allow justice to be de- feated. It is always my object to do justice, but there is a dis- cretion vested in me which I must exercise, according to my own judgment, and exercising that discretion, I do not think that this is a case to which the indulgence of the Act alluded to ought to be extended. Mr. Campbell-But will your Lordship allow me to suggest the reasons by which I think this a case within the Act. Lord Tenterden—You may suggest what you please, sir I thought you had done, or I should not have spoken. Mr. Campbell then submitted that previous to the passing the Act in question, it was a stigma on the law of England that jus- tice was often defeated by a too strong adherence to form in prac- tice. That Act was passed in order to correct that defect, and give the Judge power to extend indulgence to such cases as he should think fit.-This was clearly an oversight, and he thought, with great deference, that his Lordship would still allow them the benefit of that Act. Lord Tenterden said that if he did, he should be holding out a premium to negligence. It had been formerly too much the practice to swerve from strictness in practice, for the purpose of doing justice in particular cases; that practice had established precedents, which had introduced an injurious laxity in the prac- tice of the law which he could not approve of, and he regretted that such a laxity should ever have been produced. This was clearly a piece of gross negligence, and must follow the regular course. The plaintiff then went on the count for the account stated. Mr. Denman (with whom was Mr. Arliss Richards,) con- tended against this count, that the marble for which the bill was given was not bought by the defendant or his agent; and secondly, that if it had been so bought, it was not worth half what was charged for it, for the purpose of proving which he called witnesses. Mr. Campbell replied, the learned Judge summed up the evi- dence and the Jury found a verdict for the plaintiff-Damages £200. COURT OF COMMON PLEAS.-Delafield v. Freeman and Others.—The plaintiff in this case is a partner in the firm of Messrs. Coombe, Delafield, and Co. the eminent brewers, and the defendants are respectable solicitors in the city. The action was brought to recover compensation in damages for an alleged negligence on the part of the defendants in their professional business, by which negligence the plaintiffs had been induced to advance a considerable sum of money on security of a lease of the Bird-cage publie-liouse, Bethnal-green, which lease it after- wards appeared had become forfeited before the money was ad- vanced. After several witnesses had been examined, on an ob- jection of Mr. Sergeant Jones's, the plaintiff was nonsuited. In the course of the above trial, it was found necessary to have the evidence of a person named Jones, the person who received the money of the plaintiff. On his being called into the witness- box, Mr. Sergeant Wilde objected to his evidence, on the ground of his having taken the benefit of the Insolvent Debtors' Act. The learned counsel contended that that Act only related to the person and as all future property of insolvents was liable to the payment of their debts, they must of necessity have an interest in any matter relating to their estate. The Chief Justice—Brother Wilde, has there ever been any decision on this point 1 Mr. Sergeant Wilde was not aware that there had. Mr. Sergeant Taddy—No, my Lord it is the first time an objection of this kind was ever raised. The Chief Justice-I have known many persons who had taken the benefit of the Insolvent Act examined on matters relat- ing to their estate but then no objection was started, and there- fore there is no authority. I see very great force in the objection, and I cannot think him an admissible witness, brother Taddy. Mr. Sergeant Taddy begged, on so important a point, and one of such novelty, his Lordship would hear him, before he finally decided on the admissibility of the witness. Chief Justice-Certainly, with pleasure. Mr. Sergeant Taddy then contended at considerable length, that there was no distinction between the competency of a bank- rupt to give evidence, and an insolvent who had been discharged from his debts under the provisions of the act. It was not enough to suppose that by possibility the witness might have a future in- terest in the question, it ought to be clearly proved that he was at the present moment interested. He did, therefore, hope the Court would not consider the witness disqualified from giving evidence on the bare supposition, that he might at a future time possess an interest. Mr. Comyn followed on the same side, and contended that an insolvent never could be interested in any such question for, after obtaining the benefit of the act, his person was not liable to any debt previously contracted and with respect to his future property, that, by the 57th section, was entirely under the con- troul of the Court. It was a question never before raised, and therefore ought to be decided by a full Court. The defendants there might take the objection in case a verdict should now go against them. And as there was no authority on the point, he trusted his Lordship would consider the witness in the same situation as a certificated bankrupt. Mr. Sergeant Wilde was about to reply, when The Chief Justice interrupted him. His Lordship said the difficulty he felt in the question was this: supposing on the strength of an insolvent's evidence sufficient money should be re- covered to pay off all the debts on his schedule, if he should be- come possessed of property in future, it never could be made available in the manner contemplated by the Act. He therefore felt bound to pronounce against the admissibility of the evidence of a person that had been discharged under the Insolvent Debtors' Act.

IMTSRCLIANJ)- I REAPING MACHINE.—The reaping machine invented by Mr. Patrick Bell, which was judged worthy of a premium by the ti Highland Society, has received the most decided approbation wherever it has been brought to trial. It is therefore with con- siderable pleasure that we mention, that an experiment as to its powers has been made lately in this county, and has been at- tended with complete success. The operation of the machine was anxiously observed by a select party of agriculturists, with much satisfaction, on Mr. Robertson's farm of Reedylees, on Monday last; and nothing among the inventions of the last twenty-five years, so fertile in contrivances on this subject, ap- pears so likely to supersede the use of the sickle and scythe. All present agreed that the invention had been uncommonly success- ful. It is besides an instrument of vast execution, being capable of cutting an acre per hour, or from seven to ten acres per day on a the most moderate computation. It is free from many of the ob- jections urged against reaping by machines, and to which indeed that method was liable with the less perfect contrivances formerly in use-particularly that of shaking; but the work being here performed by clipping, the perpetual attention and loss of time in *■ sharpening which edged instruments require, is quite unnecessary; these were the principal defects of Mr. Smith's machine exhibited at Markinch several years ago, and which was otherwise very effectual. It is but a very brief outline we can give of the ad- mirable engine invented by Mr. Bell, which has performed all the harvest work on his father's farm, near Dundee, this year-a season which has been so unfavourable to speculative plans from j the lodging of victual in general. The machinery is erected upon a carriage with six wheels (which might perhaps be yet reduced to five, as one pivot wheel would be sufficient), and it is propelled forward by two horses harnessed to a pole behind. The instru- ment-, when at rest, presents eleven pair of open scissors, which may be increased to any reasonable number, occupying a line of about five feet; one half of the blades (the upper ones) are moveable, and cut with both edges, so that when in motion, the moveable blades meet those fixed on each side alternately, and, in this manner, pare the stubble to an extent equal to their linear surface, with great beauty and regularity. The moveable blades are connected and simultaneous in their action. The corn is ap- plied to the scissors by an apparatus in front similar to the shakers • of a thrashing mill, but destitute of teeth and as this revolves with an easy motion, it has little chance of shaking even the ripest and freest grain the same part of the mechanism lays the stuff, when cut, on a revolving sheet of canvass, which, in its turn, deposits it on a swathe in a very even, uniform manner making it easy for six hands to follow the instrument, and pro- duce very neat, tidy sheaves.-Fije Herald. BARON VON HUMBOLDT.—In a letter from Baron von Hum- boldt, read in the French Academy of Sciences, he gives an ac- count of his visit to the rich mines in the Ural Mountains. He observes that it is always on the Asiatic declivity of those moun- tains that the auriferous sands lie, which contain pieces of gold, platina, and chromate of iron united with platina. He also dis- covered a piece of platina of a pretty large size, and presenting a crystallization of platina towards the centre. These metals are often found a foot below the surface. The annual produce of these newly-discovered mines is 6000 kilos of gold. M. Hum- boldt found in these mines an analogy of position with the auri- ferous sands of the Cordilleras. He also observed in these mountains mines of osmium and iridum, each having separate beds, Thence he crossed the Kirghise stoppe, along the frontiers of Chinese Tartary, and visited the ruins of the ancient city of Bulgaride, or Bolgari, formerly the capital of the Tartar empire, and the residence of the family of Tamerlane. On the 20th of August, Baron Humboldt crossed Chinese Tartary, and visited rich mines of beryls and topazes, and also a silver mine, which produces annually above 40,000 pounds of auriferous silver. Lastly he entered a Chinese town the Governor received the learned traveller in tent, a point which he insisted upon, saying, that he would do the same if he were travelling in another coun- ( try. He gave him a very polite reception, and sold to him an historical Chinese work, in five volumes, for some yards of velvet and red cloth. This town has a wretched appearance, and con- tains nothing remarkable but a temple and two mean towers, in- habited by Chinese soldiers. The Russian Government has be- haved in the most handsome manner to Baron Humboldt. He is accompanied by a General and some superior officers, and also three carriages and thirty horse, with every thing requisite for his journey. He hopes to be in France next summer, enriched with valuable discoveries in geology, mineralogy, and botany. NEW PAPER.—The Mexican Congress has passed an Act en- joining the different departments of the Mexican Government to use no other paper than that which is made from a vegetable grown in Mexico, called maglley. Manufacturies of paper from this plant have been established at Queretara and St. Angel; and the paper is said to be equal for all purposes to that made from the finest linen rags.-Literary Gazette. A CAPITAL FILTER FOR FOURPENCE.—Buy a common earth- I enware funnel, put a small piece of clean sponge at the top of the pipe inside, and over that a handful of fine gravel; then fill it up with water, and, after passing through, it will come out as clear as crystal. Thus you have quite as good a filterer, for every domestic purpose, for fourpence, as can be purchased for as many pounds.—Reading Mercury. ITALIAN AND FRENCH ROADS.—How superior are the Italian and Swiss roads to those of France, and the posting as well as the roads; except in the matter of eating, too, the preference should be given to the Swiss and Italian inns. The Swiss inns are as cleanly, and, in all domestic accessaries, as proper as those in England. You are always sure of finding in them ex- cellent tea, and really boiling water-an article you cannot have for love, money, menace, or entreaty, in France. Independently of this, too, the waiters are more quick and apprehensive than the French, and, in general, better linguists, at least in Switzer- land, which the French never are. In Italy, as well as in Swit- i zerland, you are always sure of finding excellent tea and they have, too, the copper kettle, which those who have sojourned in France know so well how to prize; not from the enjoyment, truly. but from the privations which they suffer in this regard among the mercurial sons of Clovis. Again, you have not the sanded or the washed floor in Italy as in France, but glorious marble, or clean matter-of-fact boards. There is, however, this drawback- the Italian, though a sprightly, a sentimental, a reflective, and excitable animal, is not a cooking animal; and though skilled in I cavatinas and canzanettes, knows no touch of the minor mysteries of the casserole-Anglice, stewpan. Then, with an ardent ted' perament, he is blessed with a strong stomach, and gives as much v credit to his neighbour on this score as he allows himself. Hence garlic and onions, oil, and the other rank compound" of viI- lanous smells" and tastes, with which the nostrils as well as the palate of the jorestieri (or stranger) is assaulted. But one who has travelled on the jog-trot highways of France, all equally unequal, with a neat English carriage, will forgive the Italians all this for the marvellous perfection of their roads. There is nb road in England to be compared to the high road from Bryg to Venice; and the roads in Switzerland alone contest the palm- Hear this, James M'Adam, surveyor and Scot! After all, it is downright Sawney sauciness to call the system that of M'Adam, for it was known in Italy centuries ago, and was introduced into Ireland about the time M'Adam was born, by the late Richard Lovell Edgeworth, father of Miss Edgeworth, who also introduced the telegraph. Yet the English have suffered this stone-breaking Scot, this" Colossus of Rhodes," to way lay them out of a pretty considerable sum. But the heart of John is soft, and the purse of Sawney is as empty as the heads of the Collective. But to return-the question is this, whether the palm of civilization shall be awarded to cookery or roads, and I unhesitatingly give it to the latter. ° ° 1 ITALIAN FARMING. In Lombardy as well as in Berne and I the Pays de Vaud the farming is excellent. Religion, therefore, I it is plain, has nothing to do with the matter for the Lombards are excellent Roman Catholics, and the Bernise and Vaudian* as prim Protestants as the Bishop of London himself. I nevef could myself see (though it may be very clear) how a belief that the Pope was infallible should influence the growth of a crop of, wheat. In truth, we English have learned all our farming frofh the Lombards in the good old Catholic times, and I do not know that even in these days of Protestantism we have improved upo" the old system. Every thing relating to irrigation, manuring, frequent succession of crops, came across the Alps to merry England." Even Mr. Cobbett will agree with me in this, and I would rather have him on my side than a host of others. Talk' ing of Cobbett (as Mathews says) puts me in mind of India" corn, and Indian corn grows in Lombardy in great abundance; but I observe it is invariably sown in a damp submerged soil, or a soil that can be easily irrigated. Often times, too, I have observed it growing more luxuriantly where there is a stony J in the ground. I may come into disfavour with him of Botle/ ( for what I am about to say, but I cannot help that. I doub' that Indian corn will ever come into general use in England! f and, from what I have seen of it, I confess I do not wish that it should. The people in Lombardy use it much, but it rath^ r bloats than gives nutriment; and I also believe it generates ) jaundice. In the neighbourhood of Milan the fowls are fed on jt. It induces plumpness, no doubt; but then the fowl becomes of a. blackish yellow colour, and loses in flavour what it gains in bulk- In fact It becomes quite dry and stringy, and tastes as differently I from a fowl fed in the English fashion as a rough barnacle does I from a plump ortolan.—Notes of a Rambler. ( A mechanician, brother to the celebrated Moelzel, of Vienna, has constructed at Boston a set of musical automata, no less than forty-two in number, which compose a complete orchestra, and I execute several of the most difficult pieces of music in the most perfect manner. Those which excite the most admiration and J wonder are the violin players, which execute their portion of the music precisely as if they were living performers—viz. by the motion of the fingers, &c. A company of Americans have offered the artist 300,000 dollars for this extraordinary and unrivalled piece of mechanism; but the price demanded is 500,000 dollars, and it seems probable that it will be obtained. MONMOUTH: Printed and Published by CHARLES HOUGH, at the Merlin | General Printing-Office, Monnow Street, to whom, or to the r Editor, all communications should be addressed. London Agents :-Messrs. Newton and Co. Warwick Square; [ Mr. R. Barker, Fleet Street; and Mr. G. Reynell, Chancer* Lane, where, as well as at the Colonial Coffee House, Skinnfc* Street, this Paper is regularly filed. I

THE SCENERY OF THE CLYDE. Most people, I suppose, have heard of the Clyde. It is the finest river in Scotland, and Scotland is rich in fine rivers. There is the Forth, which takes its rise from a small clear pool at the bottom of Benlomond, and after winding away for miles, like a silver thread, through the wild and beautiful scenery of Stirling- shire, expands below Alloa, into a broad and majestic sheet of water, rolling on slowly and silently to the German Ocean. There is the Tay, drawing its source from the distant mountains of Breadalbane, and flowing through the enchanting lake which bears its name, whose wooded banks and little tufted island (romantic with the ruins of its ancient priory) no admirer of the picturesque should live another month without seeing: and let him follow the gentle stream, as it sweeps past the royal borough of Perth, and, gliding under the nine-arched bride, enters the Carse of Gowrie"-the Caledonian Arcadia—and at length, swelling into a frith, cea»gs to exist betwixt St. Johnstone and bonny Dundee." Then there is the Tweed—the very Avon of the North—with its classic tributaries, the Galla Water," and the Tiviot, whose "wild and willowed shore" lives in im- mortal song. Then there is the Esk, too, or rather the Esks- the North and the South—tracing their origin up to the Gram- pian Hills, and after finding their way, by different channels, through their native shire of Angus, meeting, for the first and last time, just as they are passing into their common grave in the neighbourhood of Montrose. And there are the Don and the Dee-the noblest of our Highland streams, whose course lies among rocks, and moors, and glens, and heathy hills, softening the stern aspect of the mountains of Mar Forest, and giving a softer beauty to the vale of Braemar. And there are the Nith and the Annan, rolling on in placid quiet, to the boisterous Sol- way. He who does not know their charms must learn them from Cunningham, not from me. Though last, not least, there is the Devron, a narrow, but romantic stream, and the chief ornament of Banffshire, giving luxuriance to the sweet valley of Forglen- jweeum-j round, the foot of the green hill, on whose brow stands the cottage ot Eden—wma^s tV,„ nt rv,«w. -sleeping like liquid crystal under the bridge of Alva, and then meandering on through the noble parks of Duff House, as if loath to leave those favourite scenes for the rude billows of the Murray F rith. Yet still the Clyde keeps its own ground, and remains unri- valled. Let me carry you along with me, whilst we visit its leading beauties. We shall set out from Lanark. Here is a path along the northern bank. It is shaded by trees, and its aspect is rural, but you may perceive by its breadth that it is one over which many have trod. The stream flows on beside us, somewhat ra- pidly, confined within a narrow bed by those high perpendicular walls of equilateral rocks. Now you may hear a noise in the distance, like a November wind sounding among the dry crashing branches of the forest. It increases, and the surrounding trees and rocks throw a deeper gloom over the path. Is it the roar of approaching thunder 1 No the sky is blue and serene, and the sunbeams, though they cannot penetrate here, have all the bright- ness of April. We must ascend out of this darkness. This little by-road will conduct us to yonder old tower that stands upon the height before us. The situation here is more airy, but the noise is louder than ever. Nay, do not fear it. Follow me to the tower. Now, look there This is Cora-linn There is the cataract before us, tumbling down from rock to rock, dashing from chasm to chasm, foaming, boiling, roaring-, till the brain becomes dizzy, and the sense of hearing suffers a temporary an- nihilation. See how its waters seem to burst fresh from the caves of the surrounding rocks! See how the boughs of the impending trees are whitened by its spray! Look how the river slides along with the silent velocity of light, till it reaches the edge of the precipice, and then mark how it leaps into the gulf below, and frightens the mountain echos with its earthquake voice. Look yonder, where for a moment it catches the sun-light in its fall see how every drop glitters with a different hue, laughing to scorn the brightness of the rainbow. When did water ever suggest so many varied emotions-wonder, fear, delight, and awe Every faculty is absorbed the mind is put upon its utmost stretch the very excess of pleasure becomes pain. We shall gaze no more. Yet it was in this savage retreat, among those rugged, inaccessible cliffs, that the patriot Wallace is said to have con- cealed himself for a time, meditating the deliverance of his in- jured country. Let us pass on-still nobler prospects await us. Those orchards and luxuriant fields through which the stream now winds will not detain us. We are bent upon exploring more distant beauties. Here is the smoky city of Glasgow. Let us get through it, I beseech you, as expeditiously as possible. What a multitude of steam-boats are at the quay! We shall go on board "the Inverary Castle." It is large and commodious, and, what is more, sails fast and smoothly. Some of them (though not many) are so ill fitted with engines, that you run some dan- ger of being shaken in pieces. For about ten miles the river turns and winds like a cork-screw. It presents a perpetual succession of sinuosities; and in its course a painter may discover Hogarth's line of beauty multiplied ad infinitum. But in some of its bolder sweeps, as well as in many of its more abrupt and geometrical meanderings, how beautiful are the little pictures of Nature which are continually presenting themselves! Here, for example, on the bank to the right, is a hamlet, or rather a few detached houses, to which they have given the name of Dunglass. It stands almost embosomed in trees; and immediately behind, a richly wooded hill rises in a gentle declivity. I know not well how to account for the many delightful sensations which this secluded spot, "unsung in tale or history," awakens in the bosom. I have seen such scenes before, in England, and I have heard of others which my imagi- nation clothed perhaps in ideal charms, but here those charms are realised. They remind me of the vicinity of Litchfield, the residence of Miss Seward, a lady whose worth and genius will be better appreciated hereafter, but whose sweet cottage, with all its pleasant associations, will ever hold a prominent place "in my mind's eye." They place before me Weston, the" beloved Weston" of the gentle poet Cowper; and, for the moment, I can almost fancy myself surrounded by the spirits of Mril. Unwin, and Lady Hesketh, and Joseph Hill, and Samuel Rose, and Cowper himself, the centre of the system, round whom all the other planets revolved. They recall to my memory that most enchanting retreat in all Somersetshire, where one who has out- lived nearly all the associates of her youth, and who has stepped down, almost alone, from the last century to this, still resides in the midst of her fruits, and flowers, and gardens ;-fruits of her own rearing, flowers of her own sowing, and gardens of her own laying out. When I mention Barley Wood and Miss Hannah More, there are readers who will not wonder at my enthusiasm. Where does Mrs. Hemans livel I know it is in Wales, but is it in such a situation as a poetess would choose, and as such a poetess has a right to claim ? I never see a rich sequestered scene, smiling in sunshine and autumnal luxuriance, without thinking of her. It is over such scenes that her mind knows how to throw a hallowed beauty and a cloudless light, that reminds you of the clear delicious tints of a Poussin or a Claude. But we have already left Dunglass far behind. We are now passing by Erskine House, or rather Erskine Parks-the seat of Lord Blantyre and a noble seat it is, as far, at least, as the grounds are concerned. The house is old-fashioned, and desti- tute of architectural ornaments. But I do not like it the worse. It has a simple and venerable air. His Lordship, however, is about to pull it down, for lie is building a new and more splendid edifice. A Scottish nobleman could not possess a nobler situa- tion for a magnificent mansion. Turn again to the right. You have heard of Dumbarton rock and castle-they are there before you. Whence came this im- mense mass, you inquire, isolated as it is, and unconnected with any neighbouring mountain 1 The question is more easily asked than answered. An effect is often apparent, though the cause be concealed. Neither Hutton nor Werner can explain the mystery. They know no more of the matter than the humblest fisherman. The rock is there, and there it hath stood for ages. Look beyond it, over the town of Dumbarton, and across the rich country that intervenes, and your eye will rest upon a still nobler object, a still more magnificent production of Nature—Benlomond, "giant of the Northern land," looking, if not over half the world," at least over more than half of Scotland. How sublimely does it rise into the second heavens hiding its haughty head, not in the figurative signification of poetry, but literally and truly, among the clouds of the air, as often, at all events, as the air contains clouds, which in this region is at least during ten months of the year. Far below, but invisible from our present situation, lies the prince of Caledonian lakes, a glorious sheet of water, larger than all the ponds of Cumberland and Westmoreland put together. Nor let me forget the "crystal Leven," which, flowing from the south-west end of Loch Lomond, falls into the Clyde, after a short but beautifnl course of little more than six miles. It is a stream unequalled for the pure transparency of its waves, and the romantic loveliness of its banks. It is worthy of the immortality which Smollett has given it. Hitherto we have been sailing within a narrow channel, and the banks have been marked with the characteristics of inland and fresh water rivers. But we are now entering upon a broader expanse. The banks are changed into shores, and their minuter charms are seen indistinctly in the distance. As if to compen- sate, however, for this loss, the features of the scenery become at once bolder and more decided. We can hardly talk any longer of their beauty, we must speak now of their grandeur and sub- limity. How noble the prospect which opens upon you! The river itself is glittering in the sunshine like a plain of liquid sil- ver. On either side appear towns, villages, and hamlets; and behind those, on the right, are seen the wild and irregular moun- tains of Argyleshire, bare and barren, but, in the clear atmos- phere of summer, rising with an imposing solemnity and majestic stillness into the calm blue air. Yonder is Roseneath, a beau- tiful wooded peninsula, where the Duke of Argyle has left, in an unfinished condition, the finest model of a nobleman's country resi- dence which Scotland at this instant possesses. By the way, talking of Roseneath, I cannot help adverting to the very imper- fect knowledge of its localities shewn by the author of Waver- ley," in the last volume of the Heart of Mid-Lothian." He talks of it again and again as an island-describes views to be had from it which even an Argus could never have discovered- and, above all, displays a total ignorance of the breadth and general appearance of the lochs by which it is cut off from the main land on the east and west. The reader feels disappointed when he makes this discovery; his confidence in his author's accuracy is shaken; and he consequently peruses with less plea- sure any descriptions of scenery with which he may subsequently meet. We have not yet come in sight of the ocean, for even after it has increased to its greatest breadth, the Clyde still retains its love of abrupt turnings and windings; so that, to the eye of a stranger, it frequently appears land-locked; and it is not till he has followed its meanderings more than once that he is able to distinguish its course from a distance. But we have passed Port Glasgow, with its hanging steeple--and Greenock, with its stately Custom-house—and Gourock, that most celebrated of watering- places—and Dunoon, with its little Gothic church and fine ro- mantic site-and we are bearing rapidly down on the Cloch Light-house. Now at length the far-off Atlantic appears in view. Where have you seen a noble river mingling more beautifully with the sea 1 The frith is studded with islands, and all of them remarkable for some characteristic attraction. In the foreground are the two Cumbrays placed, as if to shelter the calm bay of Largs, and offering no little temptation to the antiquary in the shape of an ancient cathedral, now in ruins-dedicated to St. Columba. Further off is Bute, the most level island, perhaps, in the Scottish seas, but rich and fertile, and proud of its roman- tic kyles, and little sunny creeks. On the south-west lies Inch- marnock, as fair an inch as eye can rest on, with its strata of coral and shells, and its old chapel, long since deserted by its patron saint. At a still greater distance rise the mountains of Arran—stern, rugged, and vast. It is there that tradition pre- serves the memory of Fingal, and there "The Lay of the Last Minstrel" places before us the Bruce of Bannockburn." H. G. BELL.