3.»~:“-’t‘his brilliant capital is placed.

t

37" that the whole_600,000 of them may not, within the next fldfiours, be washed out of their houses, like so many

1911’ thousand years, such a flood as we are here suppoe , .

I. ' -;

t

THE,IIIERCEAN‘E'S WIFE.-—A merchant in Jamaica, originally from London,baving acquired a handsome

fortune in that island, concluded with htrnselflie could ‘

n'ot’be happy with the enjOynrent of it, unless he shared it with a woman of merit; and knowing no one to his fancy, he resolved to write to a worthy correspondent in London. He knew no other style than that he used in trade; therefore, treating matters of love’ ‘as' he did hissbusiness, after giving his friend, in a .letter, several commissions, and reserving this for the last, he went on thin: Item,,;Seeingthat I have taken a resolution to margy,.and that I do not find a suitable match for me here, do not fail to send, by next ship bound hither, a yobng‘ywotnan, ofthe qualifications and form following. As for t; pbrtion, I demand none : let her be ofan honest family"? between twenty and twenty-five years of age;

V of a middle stature, and well proportioned; .her face a reeable, her temper mild, her character blameless, her health good, and her Constitution strong enough to bear the change of climate, that there may be no‘oc’casion to loolé'om for‘tt'second.’througb lack of the first one after she comes to band, which must be providedagainst as much as possible, considering the great distance, and the dangersof. the sea.j.~’If‘she arrives, and conditioned as abbve said, Livith the present letter indorsed by you, oif atiltgast ,an attested copy thereof, that there may be no mistake or imposition, I hereby oblige and engage myself to satisfy the said letter, by marrying the bearer at fifteen days’ sight. In witness whereof, I subscribe this, 6w. '

The London correspoitdént, who read over and over the odd article, which prit the future spouse on the same footing with a bile of goods, could not help admiring the prudent exactness of the merchant, and his laconic style in enumerating the qualifications he insisted on: he, however, endeavoured to serve him to his mind; and after many inquiries, found a lady fit for his purpose, in a young person, of reputable family, but no fortune, of ‘good humour, and of polite education, well shaped, and more than tolerably handsome. He made the proposal to her, as his friend had directed; and the young gentle— woman. who had, no subsistence btit from a cross old aunt, who gave her a great deal of uneasiness, accepted it. A ship bound for Jamaica was then fitting out at Bristol ; theiigentleWOrnan ‘went on board the same, toge- ther with the holes of goods, being well provided with all necessaries, and particularly with a certificate in due form, and endorsed by the correspondent. She was also included in the invoice, the last article of which ran thus: Item, a maid of tWenty-one'years of age, of the quality, shape, and conditioned as per order; as appears by the affidavits and certificates she has to produce. The writings which were thought necessary to so exact a; man as the future *husband, were an extract front the parish register; a certificate of her character, signed by the curate; an attestation of her neighbours, setting Ibrth. that she had, for the space of three years, lived

with an old aunt who was intolerany peevisli, and had .i‘iot, during all thattime, givun her said aunt the least ' occasion of complaint; and, lastly, the goodness of her constitution was certified, after consultation, by four eminent physicians. ‘-

Before the gentlewoman's departure, the London cor- respondent sent several letters of advice by other ships to his friend, whereby he informed him that per such a qhiphc had sent him a young woman, of such an age, character, and condition; in a word. such as he desired to marry. ' The letters of advice,“ the bales, arid the geri- tlewoman, came, safe to port ;r and the merchant, who happened to be one ofthe foremost on the peir, at the lady's'lauding, was charmed to see a handsome person, who, having heard him called by his nameflbus addres- sed-him: Sir,‘l have ’a bill of exchange upon you; and you know that it is not usual ftk people to carry a great

eal of money about them in such along journey as I have now made; I beg the turour that you will be pleased to pay it. 'At the same time she gave him his correspon- detit’s letter, on the back of which was written, “ the bearer of this is the spouse you ordered me to send you.” Ha, madan, said the merchant, I never yet suffered my bills to, be protested, and I swear this shall not be the firsth shall reckon myselftlie most fortunate of all men, ifyoti will allow me to discharge it. Yes, sir, re- plied shefltnd the more willingly, since I am apprized of your character. We had several persons of honour on board. who knew you very well; and who, during my passage, have answered all the questions I asked them concerning you, in so advantageous a manner, that they have raised in me a perfect esteem for you. This interview was in a few days followed by the nuptials, which were very magnificent. The new-married couple were satis- tied with their happy union, made by a bill of exchange, which turned out one of the most fortunate that happen- ed in that Island for many years.

I "PERILOUS POSITION or ST. Perensncncn.—It is me- ,ilincholy to contemplate the constant danger in which If Mr. Kohl's picture is not overchar ed, the occurrence of a strong westerly

wind and higfi water, just at the breaking up of the ice,

would at any time suffice to occasion an inundation suf-

ficient to drown the whole population, and to convert the .. entire city, with all its sumptuous palaces, into a chaotic mass of ruins. The Gtilph of Finland rutis to a point as it approaches the mouthof the Neva, where the most violent gales are frorn the' west, so that the mass of waters, on such occasions, is always forcibly impelled towfi‘tlsthe city. The Islands forming the delta ofthe Nevis, on which St. Petersburgh stands, are extremely low'ind — and the highest point ofthe city is proba- ’ "ban twelveor fourteen feet above the level 1 {A rise of fifteen feet is, therefore, enough to p race, all St. Petersburghnnder water, and a rise ofthir- I} feetis’e'nough todrown almost every human being iii nthe’iplacefi' The poor inhabitants are therefore in con- stant‘danger of being drowned, and can never be certain

.,

bly not ‘ ofthe sé

' drowned rats. To say the truth, the Subject ought not to be spoken of with levity, forthe danger is too immi- nei‘it, and the reflection often makes many hearts quake in St. Petersburgh. The only hope of this city is, that

.tbree circumstances may never occur simultaneously,

’ viihéigh water, the breaking up of the ice, and a gale 0f from the west. There are so many points of Ibegoinpass for the wind to choose among, that it would seein‘perverse in the extreme to select the west at so cri- tical a moment; nevertheless, the wind does blow very

Oftenfrom the west duri, . pring, and the ice floating in

"(be M d the Golf‘fiFinland is of a bulk amply

;, ‘Ppose a Midable obstacle to the Twater in the ofthe river. Had the ancient sages of Chittaképt meteorological recordsI one might perhaps

“be able, toggalcnlate how often in a thousand years,'jq:,..in

sing'uright be likely to occur. r .Bur‘r'sfl R.ESII)EN'I‘S oN THE Cox'rmnx'r.——According

the entire number of British residents in France was estimated at 54,000; but the thousands of continental tourists i‘who pass through France are‘ not included in this estimate. The number of British settled in the Nethei’lanrls. France, Germany, Switzerland, and Italy, is now supposed by far to exceed 100,009.»

We often speak of being settled'in life; we might fits well think ofcasting anchoriii the mtdstofthe Atlantlc Ocean. or talk of the permanent situation ofa stone that is rolling down a bill. .' 2 ‘

A Lumcaous Loss—During the disastrous retreat of Sir John Moore, to Corunna. an officer of Highland iri— fantry was sent in command-of a detachment, to clear away any obstacle that the then existing bad weather might have thrown in the front oftbearmy. As .they were busily employed iii clearing awavsome trees, they were suddenly interrupted by hearing a' sharp firing close to them, and on their proceedingto the place where the sound came from, they found themselves in thP .midst ofa sharp skirmish, occasioned by the French hailing attacked the escort ofa carriage containingthe person ofa noble Spanish lady. By the arrival ofthe British, the skirmish was brought to a speedy conclusion,

and, when the lady, on enquiring of the cotnmanderif he was unhiirt,—cast her eyes on his bare legs, she said -—‘ The Virgin and all the Saints be prai.‘_.tI.'——lie has

. g. escaped with only the loss of his breeclrvsl

No'r 'ro BE OU'I‘DONE.-—In a manufacturing town of, New England, a learned shoemaker adopted as his mot- to, and had inscribed upon his sizn, the familiar quota- tion, ‘ man’s nonsri'rl rrcli.’ A Competitor who lived op- posite, seeing that the sign of his rival attractpd much curiosity andcustom among the literati ofthe town, and not to be outdone in keeping up with the latest fashions, threw the whole population one morning into convulsions of laughter, by having placed oyer his shop iti glaring capitals—‘ mens’ and womens’ conscia recti.’

Prosperity triestlie human heart with the deepPSl probe and draws from it the hidden character. We struggle with adversity, but success disarms us.

——=-_-.-==s-e—l-—-==

UNITED STATES.

LoRD'AsunuuToN’s Mission, according to some ofthe United States papers, is progressing firvouiably. In the House of Repre- sentatives on the 4th April, the various sribjectsleispute between the British and American Governments were touched upon by Mr. J. Q. Adams. in a friendly spirit; and the following resolu- tion was submitted liy Mr.(3usliing:—

Resolved, That the President ofthe United States be, and be hereby is, requested to enter into nogticiatiun with the British Government, for the purpose of effecting a permanent, equitable, and just arrangement of commerce between the United States and the British Colonies of America.

The resolution was ordered to be printed, with a report accom- panying it, and its consideration was postpbried for it week.

On the 13th,,Mr. Lin addressed the Senate on a resolution to give the British Government the required notice for the termina- tion ofthe treaty between the United States and that Governrricrit for tlicjoint occupation of the Oregon Territory. He considered the present as a good opportunity ofdoing so, now that a special Ambassador had been sent to arrange the difficulties between the two countries. r

Tire Bnusnxnr Quasriofi—Tus Exrtbittvo EXPEDITIOX.—- The Commissioners of the North East Boundary have made a llcpbrt which was sent to the Senate on Saturday. , This docu- inent is wall timed' in relation to the arrival OfIAOI‘d Ashburton. It is said toshow conclusively tlratmo point which by any con- struction can be considered as thoNuith-west angle of Nova- Scotin, is to be found South of the place where the due North line from the source ofthe St. Croix crosses the St. John River; that it exhibits thence position ofthe Didi-smith boundary ofthe Province oniicbec,~in whidlt that tingle ‘will be given by the 'trail ofthe due North line, upsetting completely the mystification of Messrs. Fontherstonhaugli and Mudge in respect to these two points. It is also shown tliafthe line chosen by those two gen-

‘tmw m¢4wt

learn them. There are no doubt some who werguqigilxiloprtdé whdgédoss ‘will otin be knowamby their not re . l,

' mes. . ., . _ tthgoaccrnsxw tighter. STEAMER blissouni.T-Tht:o {(1)116 lowing is an extract ofa letter on board the Missouri Editors of the National Iritelligencer :-- i .

United States Steam Frigate Missouxt,

Potomac River, April 4, 1841. Messrs. Editors—4t is. with feelings lacerated With dye keenest sorrow that] Will herein make art attempt lto c you an account ofa lieiii't retidiiig scene that I Iiiivelt us l('iy witnessed from the deck of this ship, rtivolvrng the Lies 0' r; noble-hearted, generous, and high-minded liriegsmate 311:; friend, Lieutenant Borden, and fifteen of {Ills-s IllpS (131801; Yesterday (Sunday) we made Cape Henry, ant tongs m board a pilot to I'll" us into the Chesapeake,“ ho g;ng n uiulerstand that he could not pilot us more than be way 01 otir course towards Washington, as he was not acquainted with the Potomac river, btit at the same time assureth otm captuili that his father had been a branch pilot on the o t;— tiinc since the last war. In consequence of this statlt’enienlé the ship Was safely brought to anchor last evening‘s opt-ed

o’clock, in tWeiity fathoms water, just after she but. en El. the last untried river. The pilot went on shore, and return-

ed this morning about daylight, with his father, who imirje- diately got the ship under weigh, and ran her onlhei COU‘ISBt with a press of steam that carried her through ’tie 171611;]; the rate of ten knots an hour, until about 11 o cloc . t when he ran her high tip, with her bows almost out ‘0 water, on an oyster. bed. Every effort was made on the iii- stant to back her 0 , but Without success, and then corri- triencetl the work of lightening her forward. The heavy I’aixlian guns were transported from the forecastle attito the main transom, the water in theforehold started, and t It.- provisions broke out and sent to the after part of the deck , the bowers aud’one ofthe waist anchors let. go; the boats were hoisted out, and immediate preparations Imade for carrying out astern the lair-board waist anchor, with a sot-Ei- ciency of chain cable to heave her off. Accordingly, t e anchor was, weighed between the launch and lifeboat, and the chain coiled away in the bottom of ‘the launchpunder the superintetideirce of Lieutenant Borden, Midshipiirun Reiisliaw, and the boatswain. Alter they had gone about two hundred yards astern of the ship, and while payipg out the chain in twenty fathoms water, preparatory to letting go the anchor. the heavy chain cable began to run out With such tremendous force that it carried the gunwale of thelauncb under water. All hands instantly sprang for the lifeboat, but she, being lashed to the launch, was likeWise carried down by the combined weight ofthe anchor and men; and iii a moment about twenty-five officers and men were strug- gling, and many vainly struggling, for their lives. [Happy was it for those who were cui‘rted down by the massive chain, and who did not rise again to catch one last'and ago- nizing look at the bright heavens and the coiningr aid, which despair whispered could not- reach them in time to save them from sinking beneath the wave which must roll o’er them until that water shall give up its (lead. Immediately every boat from the ship was rushing to the rescue, but uti— fortunutely Could not reach the drowning men until many had stink to rise no more. -

Commander Mackenzie, with his boat’s crew, rescued Midshipman Renshaw and three men; but poor Borden, the noble, warm hearted, dearly beloved friend of all who knew him, was not a strong swimmer; rid ere the boat could come up with him he threw his art So’er his head, and stink to rise iti life no more.

BOSTON, Artur. 26. BRITISH COLONIAL TRADE.

An important Report was made on Thursday in the House of Representatives, by Mr. Crisriing;'_fi'om the Committee on F0- reign Affairs, upon the memorial of Juliez Mowry and others, citizens of Lubec, in the State ofMuinc, complaining ofthe ex- isting.arrangements on the part of the United States and Great Britain, iii regard to the commercial intercourse between the United States and the colonial possessions of Great Britain in, the “fest Indies, and on the continent of America.

The Report is of so great length that We cannot pretend to give it entire, (for the present at luast,) and we are glad there-

tlemen, so far from being the “ maximum skis ofelevation,” has

been so much “‘ abraded” that the highest peaks in it are lower

than the lowest gaps in the line claimed by’ the United States.— The Commissioners also present an argument in which they

fore to be able to lay before our readersthe following paragraphs, forming the conclusion ofit; ‘

In fine, upon a deliberate examination ofthe whole matter, the committee lay down these propositions as the conclusion to

undertake to prove :— _ , . : 15!. That the profhssion that the line from the source ofthe St.

Croix ought .to bc drawnin any other direction than due North is untenable.

2d. That in the line claimed by the United States isin truth the highlands ofthe treaty ofrl783. ‘

3d. That the epithet“ North-easternmost heads ofConnecticut River,” cannot betippl’nd to tho Eastern brunch, but that the choice niustlie between Ilall‘s and the Indian stream.

BOSTON, April 17.

THE Canons Cannes—A correspondent of the New York Commercial, writing from Nassau, under date of March 30, states—“that the steamboat Tay has just arrived with English mails from Havana. The slaves which have been confined for murder and intttiiiy on board the brig Creole will now be liberated, as 1 am told the order for that purpose has arrived. The authorities are generally com- mended for their conduct in this case.”

STEAMBOAT Exemsrom—The Baltimore American of Friday contains the following melancholy announcement:

It is our melancholy duty to announce the most fearful and fatal steamboat explosion which has ever taken place on the waters of the Chesapeake—The new and splended steam- boat Medora, built for theline between this city and Nor- folk, was yesterday rendered a wreck by the explosion of her boiler, attended by a fearful destruction of/life. .

The Metlora was just completed, and preparatory to being turned out from the hands of the machinist, a number of persons were invited togo in her on an experimental trip. The day being pleasant, it is supposed that probably one hundred or more went on board, including some ofthe di— rectors of the Steamboat company and their friends, and a number ofhands engaged iii putting in the machinery, &c., and otherwise connected with the construction or sailing of the boat.

Soon after3 o’clock, P. M. the boat was about to start from the wharf of the engine builder, Mr. John Watchman, on the south side ofthe basin, on the proposed trip. A gen- tleman who was on board informs, that the engine had only made the second revolution, in order to back the Metlora from the wharf; when the boiler exploded with a loud noise, carrying upwards a considerable portion ofthe upper deck and those upon it, and blowing the smoke stacks into the air. The main force of the explosion was almost exclusive- ly towards the head of the boat, and the portions of the boat around the boiler were torn to pieces. The boiler itself, an immense one of'iron, was thrown crosswise on the deck. '

The boat was instantly enveloped in a cloud of scalding steam, which wusiiihaled by some with fatal consequences, while others suffered externally in their persons front its ef- fects. Our informant was in the after part of the boat, where the steam had no injurious effect. He states that se- veral persons jtimped overboard, and that one of them was drowned. The boat immediately settled in the water until her hull rested on the bottom of the river. . . In the centre and forward part of the boat there was a fearful destruction of'life and limb. Some ofthose on board were blown high in the air, and fell on the shore, iii the writer, and on the boats lying near by. Others were crushed with the splintered timbers; others scalded by steam; while those below the decks, not having time to escape, were either sufi'ocated by the steam or drowned when the boat sunk. .

VVben we reached the scene of desolation, we found a large number of persons, among whom were Several phy- sicianii, husin engaged in endeavor-big to assist the injured, andcarrying away those who were dead or dying, So great was the confusion that prevailed, and so little was known as to the number and names ofthe persons on board,‘ that no complete account could be obtained. We annex a list

to the late returns made to the Prefect of Police at Paris,

ofall those who were injured or killed, as far as we could

which they have arrived :

1st. That it is the policy and desire ofthe United‘States to ob- serve, in the regulation ofthe commercial intercourse between the United States and other countries, principles ofequity, reci- prtrt‘ity, fair competition, anti mutual advantage to both parties.

2d. That the existing arrangements regulating the commerce between the United States and'the British colonies in the West Indies and on the continent of America, are unequal, and injuri- ous to the interests aftlie United States.

13d. That so long as Great Britain persists to apply to the vesv sels and productions ofthe United States peculiar regulations of commerce, other than such as regulate the commerce between the United States and the British territories in Europe, it is the right ofllie United States, and the necessary consequence, to ap- ply peculiar regulations of corirnierco to British vessels and their cargoes in the ports of the United States, entered from or pro- covdirig to the Britiin colonies iii America.

4th. That the continued imposition by Great Britain ofdiscrimi- noting duties upon the productions ofthe United States imported ititn the Britiin Colonies in America, in vessels of the United States, will justify the imposition, by the United States, of dis- criminating duties on the production of the British colonies in America iurportvd into the United States, in vessels of Great Bri- tain or llt‘l‘ colonies. I