North Wales Gazette

ELEGY, Written before Flushing the Wight previous to the Bombardment. Slow from the bcnom of the silent deep The Moon, emerging, casts her liquid light f Stretch'd on the sward the weary solTiers sleep, Recruiting Nature 'gainst the morning's fight. Majestic, o'er the level of the main, Close to the fort, lirittannia's bulwarks rise Hush d are the clamours of the fearless train, Whose loud huzzas hut lately reut the skies. Cynthia, led hy thy silver beam, I trace The signs of warfare on the sylvan scene; I glie, in sf>F;"«w, on thy lucid face, And, darin^ask of Heav'n—why this has been ? Say, what is honour? Tell me! what is Fame? A g'itiering bubble, borne upon t-he flood gha!! Man, <o gain a transitory name," Sully the green turf with a brother's blood ? "Who wars for a name, no better cause Conjoin'd is driven by destructive pride Humanity denies him her applause, When Glory's ensign is with slaughter dy'di Coofe, 'twas thy Country bade thee lead thy hand, To suat.ehthis island from a tyrant's sway; Thy enemies confess a father's hand— And mercy well deserves the poet's lay. But ah tbtil Coote and Mercy give the word, Still ruthless war low'rii or, the affiighfed ball; Pity with tears, beholds the hostile sword, And mourns the victims who are doom4 to fall. Now all is still and peaceable around, carnage ceases till the night is o'er, "When -lie hoarse cannon with appalling sound, Shall bid the active warrior "sleep no more!" To morrow's sun shall view, in dread array, Numbers of Britain's children, gen'rous, brare, Who, ere it sinks beneath the western sea, Will end their hopes of glory in a grave Perhaps upon this spot may Virtue fall; True love may here resign, in pangs, its breath; The child's, the wife's, the parent's little all May sink for ever in the shades of death! And. hark! I hear the widow's plaintive cry, Wafted upon the night-breeze, fromafarj I see 'he tear drop trembling in her t'ye-- I view her anguish and 1 curse thee—War A FORE-MAST MAS. 77. ,11. S. [mpetneux, Cawsand Hay, Jarl, ISlO.

To the Editors of the North Wales Gazelle. GENTLEMEN, I believe I may truly say there is not a greater advocate for the Liberty of the Press than myself, nor a more determined enemy to its liceittioiqitei. and entertaining these sen- iiiiii-iits, I (iiiiik the Editors of a certain London Paper* have, in my mind, been guilty of a libel upon the Body Corporate of the City of London. In the paper I allude to of the Ist itist. after nolicin that our gra- cious Sovereign with his revered family, and tiie Lords and Commons in Parliament assem- bled. had attended at different places of divine worship the preceding day, we are then gravely told thai" The Right Hon. the Lord Mayor and Sheriff's, went in State, accompanied by several Aldermen and the Recorder, from the Mansion House to St. Paul's Cathedral, where they heard Divine Service, and afterwards proceeded back to the Mansion House, where they partook of an Elegant Dinner, provided for the occasion"—the FAST DA Y III—Gen- tlemen, it is impossible that this statement can he correct.—What, the City of London, feinarkable for its abstemiousness (preferring ou a lale memorable oecasioa cold beet to Traveller. I partake of an elegant dinner on a FAST DaY! The thing «is incredible, particularly #hen ire recollect tome late observations made by Hie Livery, of the necessity of re- trenchingHseless expenditures. That this is a Libel upon the Body Corporate of the first City in the world, remarkable for theexcel- lence of its examples, I think there can be no doubt. They, good souls were, I am sure, on that solemn day, set apart for prayer aud humiliation, cloathed in sack cloth and ashes for the sins of the nation and Heir own. No temptation held out by Mr. Birch could in- duce them to taste either his turtle or venison. Soup meagre alone would on such a day be their only humble fare. But as some people in the country are apt to be sceptical, and may be induced to believe the paragraph 1 allude to, 1 must humbly request your insertion of this letter, in order to rescue that independent and immaculate Body from unmerited slander. I am, Gents. Your's &e. A CONSTANT READER. Carnarvon, 12th March, 1810.

To the "Edilorsof the North Wales Gazette, GENTLBMEU, SOME years ago I recollect reading an ac- count of the assize proceedings during the reign of James I. when superstition and the belief of witchcraft prevailed in an astonish- ing degree, so that many aged and decrcpid persons fell sacrifices to their ridiculous su- persitioa. If I remember right, when the judges went to sit the Courts in Yorkshire and Lancashire, they found many prisoners charged with hav- ing bewitched the cattle, horses, pigs, and other animals belonging to the Ileighhoun,- The charges against one poor old woman, who was loitering under the weight of ninety years, were very heavy indeed; there were se- veral who swore, 16 that they had seen her riding in the air upon an old broom, or bcesom several times; and another witness swore, thai he had 8en her, in a shameful and indecent manner, vault along the air, with her feet up. wards, to the great terror of the country."— The cotiiisel for the prosecution, made a most eloquent harangue to the court and jury, de -nanding a verdict against this old witch, which would put an effectual stop to silch practices hereafter.—The judge after having with great attention heard the allegations of the witnesses, and pleadings of the council for the prosecution, and having recapitulated the substance to the Jury, said, Geill en, 1 had the examinations, and charges against the prisoners at the bar, transmitted to ma some time ago, and I have since then examined all the Statutes and Reports, and cannot find any Act of Parliament, or derision, which at- taches any punishment to those persons who chnse to amuse themselves in these vagaries, and asrial excursions upon broomsticks, whe- ther riding on them stride legs, or with their feet upwards; which as the learned council observed was very indesent, and unbecoming a feinale to do. There is no evidence pro- duced to prove, that in their flights, they da- maged any steeples, churches, or houses, that they did not pwff up aiiv trees, injure the corn or hurt the cattle, therefore it seems to me. if they really acted as the witnesses have sworn, that they were only enjoying their own amuse- ments, without injury to their neighbours or the public. If, therefore, the council for the prosecution, can produce no act forbidding these Krial flights, 1 shall discharge the pri- soner."—On the silence of the court, the Judge ordered their immediate liberation.— Now Gentlemen, I am led to comparc the violence of our band of modern patriots, to a Mania that has taken possession of them, somewhat as strange and unaccountable, as that, with which the old witches were dTarg. ed, though not so inoffensive in its designs and effects. Let them fly upon the wings of the wind to St. James's Palace, Queen's Pa- lace, or elsewhere, to obtain Liberty and Re form so that they do not dare to proceed to any acts of violence, or commit any depreda- tions; let them, like the old witches, be in- dulged in their frolicks and vagaries, so long as they refrain from any acts of hostility, and let them enjoy that portion of ridicule and eonterapt, which the sober and discerning part of the community bestow upon them.- One of our Poets has said There is a plea- sure in madness, which none but madmen know." The flame of this Mania will burn out of itself and be extinguished as it was in Wilkes's and other patriotic uproars-I only hope, that if they should be to far emboldened, as to commit any act of hostility, and violate the laws, that a proper example will be made of the principals or ringleaders. I shall con- clude with an extract from one of Sir Robert Walpole's Speeches in the House of Commons. In all countries, and in all governments, there always will be many factious and unquiet spirits, who can never be at rest eitber. in power or out of ^ower t they are always working and intriguing against those that are in, without any regard to justice, or to the interests of their country." A TRURbltlTON.

Miscellaneous. Spring Wheat.—The real Spring or Summer Wheat, which for several years has been re- commended by the Board of Agriculture to the attention of British Farmers, we are glad to understand has succeeded in those districts where it has been properly tried. This wheat may not only be sown by itself, but where in the winter may partially fail, it may he sown on the other (winter) plants, from the latter end of April to even the middle of May, and notwithstanding the lateness of the sowing, will be ripe at the same time. This sort of wheat is particularly cultivated in the neigh- bourhood of Boston in Lincolnshire, and thence successively spread over different dis- tricts ofEngland aud £ cotfoud. Detcrlption of the city of Ttpahan, the capi- tal of Persia.—This city, which lies in long. 51. 50. £ and lat. 32. 20. N. is situated on the river Zenderoud, in the province of lrak, surrounded by a wait and ditch, and defended by a castle. The walls are built of mud, and are about 20,600 paces in compass; but kept in no repair, and so hidden by the adjoining houses and gardens, that they cut no figure, and are hardly to be discovered. The beauty of the city consists chiefly in a great number of sumptuous palaces, handsome and airy houses, spacious caravanseras, very beautiful bazars, many canals, and streets planted on both sides with lofty plane trees; though, generally speaking, the other streets are nar- row, crooked, and not paved but the air being very dry here, and every housekeeper, causing the street to be watered before the door twice a day, there is neither so much dirt uor dust as in many great citief in Europe. The Meidan Shah, or Royal Square, is( one of the finest in the world. It is 440 paces long, and 180 broad, and is surrounded with a canal, built with bricks, cemented with black mor- tar, which in time becomes harder than free. stone. The royal mosque is at the south end of this square, and its portico is wonderfully adorned with a thousand figures, and an in. conceivable profusion of gold and azure, the whole being also inlaid with enamelled squares, and a frieze round it of the same materials. Few structures can equal the magnificence of this, many of its pieces and decorations being wrought in a manner uuknown to our Euro- pean architects. The same may be said of the royal palace, and the haram, or women's apartment. The palace is certainly one of the most spacious in the world, being nearly five miles in compass. Its great portico stands in the royal square, and is all built with porphy- ry, and very high. The Persians revere it as sacred. The suburbs of Ispahan are very large, and chiefly inhabited by Armenians. There are besides 1460 villages round about Ispahan, and the inhabitants live chiefly upon the manufacturing of silk and wool. In 1387, Ispahan was taken by Tiiitir Bec. The inhabitants redeemed .their lives by paying a I large SIIt11; but an insurrection taking place in the night, Timur ordered that all the in- habitants should be put to the sword and it is computed that TO,000 were killed by the soldiers, and their heads piled in heaps on the walls of Ispahan. In 1722, it was taken by the Afghans, under Mahmoud, after a long siege, in which the inhabitants suffered g-reat hardships, and many died of hunger. In 1727, it was recovered from the Afghans by Nadir Shall. fSonaparle's new Wife.-Aplain account of the brides parentage, will put thisunuaturaf union in its true point of view, better than any comment we can make upon it. By her mother. Maria Theresa, she is a Bourbon, grand daughter to the dethroned King and Queen of Naples, and her aunt lately married the persecuted Duke ot Orleans by the saineside, she is niece to the det h roncd Charles IV, of Spain and cousin to the imprisoned Ferdinand VII. By the father's side, she is cousin to the dethroned Queen of Sardinia, by both sides, she is grand niece to the murdered Maria Antoinette, whose palare she is going to inhabit, and who had the first warning of her fate, by the infuriated Paris Mob shout- ing, off wilh the Auslriant" Such is the intended spouse of the inveterate foe of ail the Bourbons; of the usurper of their blood stained inheritance- of the murderer of a BOil rbun I The Prince of HTllles.-Thc following in- stance of benevolence iu the Heir Appnrcnt, deserves to be made kiioivii :-A few days s;lIce, his Royal Highness was on a friendly visit at the house of Lord Melbourne, at Whitehall, and upon his return, about two o'clock in the morning, lie perceived a poor boy lying huddled up beneath the portico of the Noble Lord's house, where he had crept to avoid the inclemency of the weather, it having rained very hard during the evening. His lioyal Highness accosted the poor boy. and asked what belay there for the boy^re- plied, that he had come from the country, and had no parents nor home to go to. "Good God t" said his Royil Highness, turning to his attendants, this poor child mnstllot re- main here—he will per;sii.He then order- ed the boy to follow the carriage to Carleton- house. On their arrival, he directed every necessary refreshment to be given him, and to be put in a comfortable bed. In the morn- ing, he enquired of the boy how he had pas- sed the night; found that his story was all artless anltrue one, and immediately directed that he should he employed in the household, having first given orders for his being newly cloalhed.-The boy remains at Carletou house, probably provided with a home for life. ILLICIT DISTILLATION.-This most pernici- ous nuisance we are truly pleased to observe, is about to be speedily and effectually sup- pressed not by penal statutes, which are generally the resort of indolent legislation but by a system more enlightened, compre- hensive and effectual, which dries up the foun- tain of the evil and intercepts all its derivative bad consequences. Mrr Foster has given notice in the House of Commons of his intention to bring in a Bill for licensing the working of small, itills in Ireland, and it is to the judicious accomplishmenl of this measure that we look for the extinction of the abomination of law- less distillation which has been engendered by that lazy and ill-considered system of our He. venue Law, that sacrificed the public to mo- nopolists and to the slothful collection of the duties on distilled spirits. The experiment of fining parishes for unlicensed stills, we were certain would never reach the root of theevil. It was not the wantonness of adventure, nor the love of resistance (a tile law that produced it-it was the interest of one of the most flourishing and important provinces of Ire- land to pursue it, because bad as it was, it was of encouragement to agriculture, and augmented a great landed interest which had no other adventitious excitement to itsgrowth. The fining of parishes in the way that had been pursued, was becoming a gflevauce- penalties fell heavy upon innocent persons, while the guilty reaped the wages of theirown disobedience—it is wonderful how it could ever have been relied upon as the grand bul- wark of the revenue. That it is about to yield to a softer but a more effective system, we are realay well pleased—'and as we feel particularly interested for that part of the kingdom tvhere prohibited disfIllation ft. most general, we shall take another opporlu*> iiity of returning to this subject, and calling the attention of others very personally inter- ested, to a sober consideration of it. Intended detcent into E.!don Hole.—The fof- lowing information is received from credible authority, respecting the descent intended to be made in the course of the ensuing spring into the above tremendous chasm, ill the peak of Derbyshire, for the purpose of exploring* if possible, the depth, extelit, sfratificatiolit and other particulars of this hitherto unfa* ihomable abyss. A survey was made last week by Mr. Hutch- inson, of Chapel-en-le-frith, author of the 11 Tour through the High Peak," and some old experienced miners, to ascertain the most proper place for laying a stage, and fixing the necessary apparatus for a descent into lildoit Hole; and there can be no doubt, but this adventurous undertaking will prove highly in- teresting to the public, as well as useful to the scientiifc geologist. The length of line let down into Eldotl Hole, has been stated by some writers to have been 2,800 fathoms, while others gave a very different and far less calculation. Be this however as it may, it is very probable that different subterraneous passages will be dis- covered by the adventurers, extending in va- rious directions, and communicating perhaps with the great Peak's Hole, or some other darksome cavern of the earth. There is not any person now living who ha* descended into Eldon Hole, and indeed the descent formerly made by a person of the ad- jacent country, who was let down only to thtf first perpendicular landing, to discover whe- ther a human body suspected to have been murdered was thrown into this pit, could not be expected to produce any very authentic account, as the inducement arose from a mere' casual circumstance, without any preparation, and perhaps without the spirit of investiga- lion. The most minute attention is required on such an occasion, as the smallest cranny or aperture is often known to open into the rpaguilicentnpartmenh of lhe mineral king- dom.—But we must yet remain iu ignorance on this subject; the dark and undiscovered extent of this dismal gulph must still Wwiider the most intelligent, and paralize the moit bold and enterprising, with awe, coiijet,ttiret and amazement I for, beyond these cowcep- tions, no human being can at present devise one single idea. It is, however, some satisfaction for us to be enabled to inform our readt-rs, that in nil probability, tjne above enterprise, will bw pursued wilh judgment, and executed willi resolution.

ANECDOTES.. A LATE eminent Barrister, who was pnrti- cularly distinguished for his wit and i-tiiivi- viality, which never quit him whilst he livedp though they not unfrequently created hinl enemies, was once employed on the side of some merchants, against the insurers, who refused to pay the insurance. Their counsel had contended that the merchants had forfeit- ed their claim they being hound to cirty twelve guns whereas they only carried eight gnus, the other four being swivels. This Counsel for the merchants now stood up, and addressed the Jury in behalf of hi, clients; and then addressed the Judge; who unfortunately squinted; saying, "My Lord, my lenrned friend has set up a most extraor- dinary defence, in contending that we did not carry on board twelve guns, four of them be- ing only swivels.—He might with equal pro- iii-iclyl-liave told your Lordship, that your Xordship's eyes, are not eyes, hut only swivels- The same gentleman once travelling on the Oxford Circuit, observed at a distance, that the Judges carriage had suddenly stopt, he ordered the postilion to drive up, and enquire what was the matter. When he reached the Judge's carriage, he perceived that his Lori* 11 t-I shil) wis geltiii- out, when my Lord, that nothing amiss has happen- ed." The Judge answered. "No, no ToiH> -only the grav,-I-tl)e gravel." I 3111 glad of it my Lord," Ite rc(,licll, and if lour, Lordship will gravel the whole road to thet next stage, you will do a piece of public ser- vice—Good morning to your Lordship." ud rode on. b A gentleman of acknowledged superior abilities in his profession, practised some yeajJ. ago "in a populous neighbourhood; but hlf eccentricities, and rude address, deterred ma- ny persons from employing him. lie was not unconscious of his attainments and skill, littv- ing studied under the best masters at pario, and Amsterdam, which advantages had not been afforded to the other practitioners. Bø was once called in to an elderly lady, who then laboured under a violent fit of the gout. —upon his drawing near to the bed said, Oh Doctor, Doctor !-what is it that occasions this gout?" Pulling up the waist- band of his breeches, and taking a turn lip and down the room, he answered, By G-. Madam,—it is generally brought on by wil-r- -n-, Lewis XIV. phying at backgammon, had a doubtful throw. A dispute arose, and the surrounding courtiers all remained silent.—— The Count de Gramont happened to come itt at the instant. "Dccide the matter," said the King to him.—" Site," said the Cottnf* Your Majesty is in the 1c,rong." How 1'* replied the King, can you t'sus decide, with- out knowing the question ?"—»« Because/ said the Count, had the matter been doubt* ful, all these gentlemen preseut would hava given it for your Majesty b A miser, having lost a hundred pounds promised leu pounds reward to any one wliO should bring it him Au honest poor man, who found it, brought it to the old gentleman, de- manding the ten pounds. But the miser, baffle him, a Hedged there were one hundreo and ten pounds in the bag wfeten lost. The poor man, however, was advised to sue for the nlO, ney; and, when the cause came on to be triedt it appearing that thoseal had not been brol,e,. nor the bag ripped, the judge said to the de- fendant's counsel—" The bag you lost had 4 hundred and ten pounds in it, you say ;— Yet,, my lord," sava lie. replied according to the evidence given in this caunot be your money; for hejewere on'L a hundred pounds Ihereiote tfce plaiuH-ff must keep it blithe- true s-wuer appear;

Written let the George and (iragon Inn, AT BANGOR FEltR Y. Since ribaldry so oft they write l'o catch the e,),ev Tor once let pie y excite, To him that sits ou high. Xar deem me past the days when wealth And love men's thoughts employ, y pulse beais high with honest health, My heart with holy joy. If here when past the stormy seas, A resting place yoa'ie found, 'Where nature's varied beauties please, Let gratitude abound. Be duly thankful to his hand* That checks the ocean's pride, 1ft hose wafers swell at his command, At his command subside. Thus shall you bliss for toil embrace, Life's stormy tossíng7 o'er, I A wider ocean smooti-iiy pass, And find a safer shore. 11

A QUESTION. AMI me catniits profound, "Where is Wisdom to he foundt Tgt it 'niong,flie gay and great Loll ins: in majestic state, Seeking still a round of joys, Masks and balls and pleasing toys, JLifhtly passing time away, "Wooing pleasure ev'y day, Ev'ry day fresh pleasure gaining, Evt"y nerve to pleasure straiaiiig Or does Wisdom rather dwell 111 the scholar's inrnostcelL. ;V; "With philosophy his guide, $;rir(ly ii)arshitl'(i by lii.,i side'l Jtfeditation n?eek and pale, Analysing ev'ry gale < Astronomy with uplift eyes, Rea,liti.- wonders in the skieg- All that Greece and Rome before To ev'ry clime their glory bore f Or is Wisiom to be seen On the humble cottage green, Living with the peasant there On his plain and healthy fare, ■"Where no surfeits ever cloy, "Where content,and peace and joy, And where labour too reside, Without envy care or pride ? Say does wisdom deign to dwell In the scholar'i learned cell Or among the gay and great Or the peasants homely state? B.

To the Editors of the North ffale* Gaiette. Stale of Religion in North dmerica^\ SOON after Mr. Jefferson's advancement to the presidency, the tythes of the episcopal clergy were entirely abolished, and the church lands sold for the use of government. All religious sects are therefore on the same foot- ing. In the New England States, Presbyterians aud Baptists are the most numerous. New York has a large proportion of adherents to the Church of England, which many of the Dutch also attend. New Jersey contains a mixture of Quakers, Baptists, and Presbyterians. In Pensylvanist, founded by William Penn, a rigid Quaker, a great part of the inhabitants are of that per- 21 suasion. In Maryland about one half of the people are Roman Catholics. In Virginia the methodists prevail. In the Carolinas, religion is at a very low ebb the inhabitants of these States pass their Suudays iu riot and liecotioui. ness, and the negroes indulge in tumultuous sports, and drunkenness. In Connecticut the sabbath is kept in the most rigid manner; a great majority of the people being baptists, and Presbyterians. In the other States, Ma- ryland excepted, the principal merchants, and men of property are chiefty of the Church of F,iigiand.-Aniongst the numerous religious sects in the United Stales, there is one, which for cxlravalaiii-e of action, during their ori- sons, is certainly pre-emineiit. These people are called Shakers. The first society was formed at Havard, in the State ofMassachu- sets, by Ann Leece, who denominated herself their Mother; and she associated herself with William Leece, her natural brother, as her second; John Parkinson, who had formerly been a Baptist preacher in England, the chief speaker. These people had converts in num- bers, and from distant parts, who laid up stores of provisions for such as tarried at Ha- vard. Their meetings, which continued day and night for a considerable time, consisted of preaching, singing and dancing; the men in one apartment, and the women in another. These meetings were attended by converts from a great distance, who staid from two to twenty days. They had missionaries in the country making proselytes, and confirming others in this fancied millenium stale. These were taught to be very industrious at home, that they might he able to contribute to the general fund, and many devoted their whole substance to the society. They vary their ex- ercises of devotion. Sometimes they dance, or rsther jump up and down in a heavy man- ner, till they are exhausted by the violence of the exercise. The chief speaker will sometimes begin to pray, they then desist to listen to him, and when he has finished, immediately renew their dancing with increased vigour. Then generally follows the shaking, as if shudder- ing under an ague, from which they have received the name of Shakers. They sing praises to David during the daticiiiw but 1 t, el could not learn what holy man or saint they nvoke in their shaking tits. The women are ■qually employed in the fatigues of these ex- e: ciscs under the eye of the mother in another apartment, where they jump and scream in dreadful concert. Sometimes there will be -hort ifttertuisaions, out iu a minute or two, one of the chiefs will spring up, crying, as David danced so will we bctorcGod," the tthcrs follow this signal; and thus, alternate- ly dancing, praying and singing, they pass nIght after night and often until morning, vlother Leece's followers have formed socie- ties in New Lebanon aud Hancock in the State of New York. J. S. A.