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obstruction to this navigation. One would suppose that this question would be readily answered by any person, having a general knowledge of the character and commerce of the Connecticut River. It is hardly possible to suppose that this bridge, with its piers in the bed of the river, and its train of cars passing perhaps hourly upon it, and passing still more frequently as time advances and business increases, should not be such an obstruction. And it would seem to be a decisive answer to the inquiry, that if this bridge will not be an obstruction to this navigation, then another and ano her might be authorised, until the whole river would be bridged, from its mouth to the port, which would be, thereby, effectually shut, and its commerce annihilated.

It affords me satisfaction to believe, that the grant of this exclusive right to this company, is not necessary, nor of any great importance to any portion of our citizens who desire it. The inhabitants of the valley of the Connecticut River, and the inhabitants residing upon the route of the proposed Railroad. have respectively rights and claims upon the justice and equity of the Legislature, which ought not to be disregarded. If the road be granted, with the usual privilege of passing navigable waters in the usual manner, the rights and claims of both these portions of our fellow citizens will be regarded with equal justice, and neither be sacrificed to the other. Such of our citizens as will be way-passengers on this road, will little think of a few moments' delay. Those, who would merely pass through the State with railroad speed, have no very strong claims for extraordinary legislation. To the owners of freight, the inconvenience will be no more than is usual upon the great lines of railroad in the country, when they cross the navigable waters of the United States. It would, therefore, be most unnecessary, and most extraordinary, to grant to this corporation the privilege of crossing these waters, between the mouth of the river and the head of sloop navigation, by a bridge; a privilege which has been hitherto withheld from the citizens of this State: a privilege which is not now enjoyed by the people, or by any corporate body a privilege which would now be withheld, should any portion of our constituents apply to this Legislature for leave to cross by a bridge, on horseback, in wagons or carriages, or with teams carrying the produce of their farms, or their workshops, to the nearest market.

Such an exercise of the power of legislation, by granting such an exclusive privilege over the navigable waters of the United States, to a private incorporated company, in derogation of the rights and privileges of a large portion of the people, which they in all times past have been accustomed to enjoy, while the same charter granting it, refuses to the landholder, whose property is taken from him for the use of this corporation without his consent, the right to appeal to any Court, or to a jury of his countrymen, for a reassessment of his damages, does not commend itself to my judgment; and for the reasons which I have stated, I feel constrained by convictions of imperative duty, which it is not in my power to overrule, to return this bill to the reconsideration of the General Assembly. ISAAC TOUCEY.

EXECUTIVE CHAMBER, General Assembly, June 16, 1846.

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TUESDAY, June 30.

Prayer by Rev, Dr. WYCKOFF. The reports of the Register in Chancery, and the Equity Clerk of the 7th Circuit, in relation to the sale of Infants' estates were received.

The Van Rensselaer Guards tendered their services as an escort into line, in the procession of the 4th of July. Accepted.

RIGHTS OF CITIZENS.

Mr. TALLMADGE, from the committee on the rights and privileges of the citizens of the State, submitted the following report:

ARTICLE,

1. Men are by nature free and independent, and in their social relations entitled to equal rights. § 2. All political powers is inherent in the people. 3 No member of this State shall be disfranchised. or deprived of any of the rights or privileges secured to any citizen thereof, unless by the law of the land.

4. The right of trial by jury in all cases in which it has been heretofore used, shall remain inviolate.

5. Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel or unusual punishments inflicted.

or

6. The free exercise and enjoyment of religious profession and worship, without discrimination preference shall forever be allowed in this State to all mankind; but the liberty of conscience hereby secured shall not be so construed as to excuse acts of licentiousness, or justify practices inconsistent with the peace or safety of this State.

7. All such inhabitants of this State, of any religious denomination whatever, as from scruples of conscience may be adverse to bearing arms, shall be excused therefrom by paying to the State an equivalent in money; and the Legislature shall provide by law for the collection of such equivalent, to be estimated according to the expense in time and money of an ordinary able-bodied militiaman.

8. The privilege of the writ of habeas corpus shall not be suspended, unless when, in cases of rebellion, invasion, the public safety may require its suspension.

9. No person shall be held to answer for a capital or otherwise infamous crime, (except in cases of impeachment, and in cases of the militia when in actual service, and the land and naval forces in time of war, or which this State may keep with the consent of Congress in time of peace and in cases of petit larceny, under the regulations of the Legislature,) unless on presentment or indictment of a grand jury, and in every trial or impeachment or indictment the party accused shall be allowed to appear and defend in person and with counsel, as in civil actions. No person shall be subject to be twice put in jeopardy for the same offence, nor shall he be compelled to be a witness against himself, in any criminal case; nor in any case to subject himself to a penalty or forfeiture, or any loss or deprivation in the nature of a penalty or forfeiture; nor be deprived of life, liberty or property without due process of law.

10. Every citizen may freely speak, write and publish his sentiments on all subjects, being responsible for the abuse of that right; and no law shall be passed to restrain or abridge the liberty of speech or of the press. In all prosecutions or indictment, and in civil actions for libels, the truth may be given in evidence to the jury; and if it shall appear to the jury that the matter charged as libellous is true, and was published with good motives and for justifiable ends, the party shall be acquitted, and the jury shall have the right to determine the law and the fact.

11. Private property shall not be taken for public use without just compensation being first made therefor. If the taking is for the use of the State, the Legislature shall provide for determining the damages; and if for any other public use, the damages shall be assessed by a jury. The Legislature may provide for the opening of private roads, in case a jury of freeholders shall determine the road necessary; the persons benefitted paying all expenses and damages to be also determined by a jury.

case.

12. Witnesses in criminal cases shall not be imprisoned for the want of bail to secure their attendance at the trial of the cause: unless upon the special order of the magistrate or court having jurisdiction of the Laws shall be passed to secure if necessary, the temporary detention of witnesses in criminal cases, and for their prompt examination de benne esse, which examination shall be evidence in all subsequent proceedings upon the subject matters; and shall have the same effect as the oral testimony of the witness would have, were he present and examined in person.

13. No person shall be imprisoned on any civil process, on any writ or proceeding upon any contract, express or implied, or upon any judgment or decree founded upon such contract; but nothing herein contained shall extend to actions for the recovery of moneys collected by any public officer, or on promises to marry, nor in any case to fraud or breach of trust.

§ 14. All property, real or personal, of the wife, owned by her before marriage, and that acquired by her afterwards, by gift, devise or descent, or otherwise than from her husband, shall be her separate property. Laws shall be passed providing for the registry of the wife's separate property, and more clearly defining the rights of the wife thereto, as well as to property held by her with her husband.

15. No divorce shall be granted by the Legisla ture, or otherwise than by judicial proceedings provided for by law.]

§ 16. No lottery shall be authorised in this State;

nor shall the sale of lottery tickets within this State be allowed.

17. No purchase on contract for the sale of lands in this state, made since the seventeenth day of October, 1775, or which may hereafter be made of, or with the Indians in this State, shall be valid, unless made under the authority and with the consent of the Legislature.

18. Such parts of the common law, and of the acts of the Legislature of the Colony of New York, as together did form the law of the said Colony on the nineteenth day of April, 1775, and the resolutions of Congress of the said Colony and of the Convention of the State of New-York in force on the twentieth day of April, 1777, which have not since expired or been repealed or altered; and such acts of the Legislature of this State as are now in force, shall be and continue the law of this State, subject to such alteration as the Legislature shall make concerning the same; but all such parts of the common law, and such of the said acts or parts thereof, as are repugnant to this Constitution are hereby abrogated.

19. All grants of lands within this State, made by the King of Great Britain, or persons acting under his authority, after the fourteenth day of October, 1775, shall be null and void; but nothing contained in this Constitution shall impair the obligation of any debts contracted by the State, or individuals or bodies corporate, or any other rights of property, or any suits, actions, rights of action, or other proceedings in courts of justice. By order of the committee,

JAMES TALLMADGE, Chairman.

Mr. TALLMADGE begged to say to gentlemen who had sent resolutions to this committee, that each and all had been fully considered. And if the movers did not find their propositions embodied in this report, the reasons therefor would be given when the report came up for consideration. As a general remark, he would now say, that the committee considered most of them subjects for the consideration of the Legislature rather than of this body. Many of the sections now submitted were contained in the existing Constitution. These had all been designated by the Committee as directed by the Convention.

Mr. T. moved to refer to the Committee of the whole, Agreed to.

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Roe v. the Marquis and Marchioness of Westmeath. The particulars of this case, which have been very recently stated in this paper, were to the following effect:-Lady Westmeath is the occupant of the house next beyond that of the Duke of Cambridge in Piccadilly towards the west, and at the corner of Whitehorse street. Sir Frederick Roe occupied the house opposite to Lady Westmeath's in the same Street, both houses having their principal fronts in Piccadilly. Lady Westmeath having occasion to incresae the size of her house, raised part of the wall from about 20 feet to about 49 feet, in that part of it which fronts Whitehorse Street, and which is opposite to a portion of the plaintiff's house. The raising of this wall having had the effect of diminishing the light in that part of Sir Frederick Roe's house, he brought_an action to recover compensation for the injury, The case having come on for trial before Mr. Justice Erle, the learned judge intimated to the jury that they ought to find a verdict for the plaintiff, if they were of opinion that his comfortable enjoyment of his house was diminished by the raising of the opposite wall, and that the fact of the two houses being situate in

the metropolis, and being separated by a public street, made no difference in the rights of the defendants.

The jury having found a verdict for the plaintiff. The Solicitor General, upon a former occasion, applied to the Court for a rule calling upon the plaintiff to show cause why a new trial should not be granted, upon the ground that the general law affecting the obstruction of light was qualified by the fact of the houses in question being situate at opposite sides of a street in the metropolis, and that the charge of Mr. Justice Erle upon this point amounted to a misdirection.

The Court upon that occasion having taken time to consider the application.

Lord Denman now stated the opinion of their Lordships, to be that the charge of Mr. Justice Erle upon this point was quite correct. The general principle upon the subject was, that one must use one's own property in such a manner as not to injure the property of another, and neither the metropolitan situation of the buildings, nor the intervention of a public highway between them, appeared to this Court to constitute any exception to that rule.

The application for a new trial was therefore rerused.

CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION. "DANGEROUS LEGISLATION."

Saturday, June 27.

TITLES OF BILLS.

Mr. TAGGART offered the following. Resolved, That the second standing committee consider and report on the expediency of incorporating a provision in the constitution, providing that every law passed by the legislature, shall, in its details, be in accordance with its title.

Mr. TAGGART asked indulgence whilst he adverted to one or two cases in explanation of the kind of legislation intended to be reached by this resolution. He had before him an act concerning passengers in vessels arriving at the port of New-York." At the close of one of the sections of this act he found a clause authorising the corporation of New-York to regulate the rates of wharfage to be charged on vessels discharging at or near any of the piers, ships, &c. He had also before him another act, passed in '44, purporting to be, by its title, "an act to amend certain portions of the Revised Statutes, in relation to bringing appeals and writs of error." The 3d section of this act repealed the 31st section of the act of 1840, concerning costs and fees in courts of law," which section provided that liens by judgment or decree, docketted after the act took effect, should cease after the expiration of five years. Here was a section repealed which had no reference to costs and fees, &c, and yet at the same session, two acts passed which had direct reference to the act concerning costs and fees, and another expressly regulating liens on real estate.

Mr. RCIHMOND was glad his colleague had introduced this subject. It reminded him of some bills that had passed the legislature whilst he was a member, which showed the importance of some regulation of this matter, that the people might remonstrate before it was too late. A bill was introduced in 1841, professing in its title to be a "legal reform'' bill, but in reality it increased the fees of legal gentlemen about 25 per cent. The public was led to believe that it reduced the fees of lawyers-and he had to work himself up to a strong point of courage to vote against a bill with such a title. He, however, did vote against it, after in vain trying to get the title changed. He hoped the subject would be referred.

Mr. STRONG also favored the enquiry. He recollected an instance of this kind of legislation. A bill was brought into the house to compel the Utica and Schenectady railroad to carry freight. At the same time those who were interested in this road were here about our lobby, and very anxious the bill should pass-urgiug that though it was a hardship on them, it was necessary to pass such a law for the benefit of the people of this State. But there was a difficulty about this that gentlemen did not foresee. They somesometimes went on and specified something in the title of a bill that was correct, and then added" and for other purposes." How would the gentleman get ovor that? (A laugh.)

Mr. NICOLL was decidedly in favor of the resolution, but on grounds different from those urged by the mover. Every lawyer must feel the importance of it; for to the profession there could be no greater annoyance than to find themselves unexpectedly, as the phrase was, floored, in court, by one of these incongruous statutes. He recollected a case of this kind. By the laws of this state, it was supposed to be impossible for a husband to apply for a divorce on the ground of cruel treatment by a wife. On a bill being filed by a husband on that ground, it was declared to be a case not within the purview of any law; but the counsel for the applicant referred at once to a law, the title of which purported that it was a law changing the terms of one of the local courts, but in which was a section authorising this proceeding on the part of the husband. It would be a great convenience to the profession, not to to be obliged to hunt through local statutes for general principles. Mr. W. TAYLOR had no objection to this enquiry at all. But if we were going on to adopt a constitution covering, not only all the principles of legislation, but the manner of it, it would not be easy to say when we should get through. But to glance at the case stated by the gentleman.from Genesee (Mr. Richmoud)-the case of the bill to reduce the fees of lawyers. The gentlem.n found it increased the fees in some instances. Would he have had the bill entitled on act to reduce and increase the fees of lawyers?-for Mr. T. presumed that the bill did both.

Mr. RICHMOND: It was all increase-no decrease.

Mr. W. TAYLOR: That was a matter of opinion perhaps. Some might suppose there was a reduction; but practically it might increase them-and if so, under such a provision as this, the law would be unconstitutional. This then might by going further than the mover intended.

Mr. TAGGART's resolution was adopted.

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SUPERIOR COURT.

CHARLES W FEEKS,

vs.

ISAAC ADRIANCE.

This was an action of Ejectment tried before Samuel Jones, Chief Justice, June 19, 1846.

The plaintiff claimed 10 lots of land on 127th St., which had been purchased at a Corporation sale for the pretended opening of Mount Morris Square, (better known as Snake Hill).

The assessment on the lots was $22, for which they were sold to the plaiutiff by the corporation for 200 years.

At the trial there did not appear to be any law authorizing the laying out of a square as directed by the Resolution of the Common Council, nor did it appear that the assessment had not been paid, or that it was due. There was no notice of the Commissioners presenting their report for affirmation. No notice of sale published which the law directs or of redemption published which the law also directs. There were several other objections taken at the trial by Mr. Morr, defendants counsel, to the plaintiff's right to

recover.

After the plaintiff had rested his case, defendant's counsel moved for judgment for defendant, on the ground that the plaintiff had entirely failed to make out a valid assessment and sale. The judge first suggested the propriety of taking a verdict for the plaintiff, subject to the opinion of the Court on a case. This the defendant's counsel objected to. The judge then ruled every point of law against defendant and directed the jury to find a verdict for the plaintiff for the lots, which they did as directed. The defendant's counsel immediately prepared a bill of exceptions and tendered to the Court, which they settled according to the facts. The plaintiff's counsel since the settlement ascertained that the decision of His Honor, the Chief Justice was not in accordance with the well settled principles of law, and immediately consented to a new trial, with costs to abide the event. Defendant's counsel insisted upon having the case argued before the whole Bench and have the discussion of the Court on all the questions raised so that the Court would be prepared to decide the next case on the trial without the necessity of compelling the party to make a case.

This course was refused him and he was given to understand that the Court would not have an argument on the case, but would grant a new trial, and His Honor, Judge Oakley, did grant an order on 29th of June, directing a new trial, and the costs abide the event-thereby putting the defendant to the expeuse of preparing the case for argument, and the expense of a new trial in case the judgment in the end shall be against him, when the fault was with the plaintiff and the court.

From the Express.

"SUPERIOR COURT, July 10.-Before Chief Justice Jones.-Chas. W. Feeks, vs. Isaac Adriance.-Sale for Assessments.-Action to obtain possession of 10 lots of land on 126th and 127 th Streets, between third and 4th avenues, which Mr. F. bought at a sale for assessments. The defence was that the proceedings of the Common Council in levying the assessment were irregular on various grounds mentioned, and that the final certificate was shown to be incorrect on its face. The Chief Justice charged that the certificate of the Street Commissioner must be taken as conclusive-that "the plaintiff has made out his case and the defendant has failed in his defence." The Counsel for defendant rose to make some explanations, but the Court struck down its mallet and would not permit him to go on, saying if there was any thing wrong in the charge, the counsel would enter exceptions. "The counsel said the facts should be left to the jury. "The jury retired and finally returned a verdict for plaintiff, subject to the opinion of the Court, which could not be received, and a verdict was given for plaintiff. [We understand the views of the jury were in favor of defendant, but they felt bound by the gestions of the court.

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"For plaintiff Mr. Robert Dodge; for defendant Mr. R. Mott."

SUPERIOR COURT,-Full Bench.-July 22.-This cause has been on argument for two days. Edward Sandford and Richard Mott, for defendant. Robert Dodge for Plaintiff.

THE LAW'S DELAY.

"For who would bear the whips and scorns of time,
The oppressor's wrong, the proud man's coutumely,
The pangs of despised love, the law's delay,
The insolence of office-and the spasms
That patient merit of the unworthy takes
When he himself might his quietus make
With a bare bodkin:"

The law's delay seems to have been a prominent evil as long ago as Shakspeare's time, and perhaps will continue to be so as long as time lasts, unless indeed our State Convention or some other potent body, devise a remedy for this among other ills that litigants are heir to, and we most devoutly hope that the wisdom of that body will be successfully applied to the subject of judicial reform.

Among the subjects worthy of their attention on that branch of their labours we would suggest an inquiry as to what effect it is calculated to have on the progress of a cause through our courts (more especially in the city of New-York) to so arrange the fees and perquisites of the judges that the multiplication of orders, cases, bills of exception, and motions of various kinds, is a sure method of multiplying dollars in the pockets of the judges-and whether such a circumstance as the sure prospect of making several dollars of more fees can have any influence in inducing judges to protract rather than expedite the final determination of a cause.

English writers reproach the Americans generally, (we think unjustly) for their mercenary motives and propensities. Had they looked behind the judicial curtain and taken a realizing view of the modus operandi in certain cases, it is much to be feared that a novel and somewhat startling and degrading application of the power of the mighty dollar, would have opened itself to their astonished view. Some means should also be adopted if possible to restore to parties the right of trial by jury, which although guarded in form, is often practically denied or withheld by the manner in which causes are turned off rather than tried, in some of our courts.

Better by far dispense altogether with the form of trial by jury, than as too often happens, convert it into an idle farce, so well calculated to bring into contempt the judicial administration of the laws.

The difficulty of getting a cause submitted to a jury on the facts, under a correct ruling of the questions of law involved in it, is now become a common subject of remark and complaint among the members of the bar.

When the cause is taken from the jury by the presiding judge, and the parties are denied the privilege of having their cause passed upon by the jury, it would be some consolation if they could have the benefit of a decision of the judge himself-but there is a practice fast growing into use which places the judicial functionary very much in the category of the dog in the manger-he will neither let the jury decide the cause nor do it himself, at least, not at the time the decision should be made, on the trial of the cause. Indeed, it is sometimes quite amusing to witness the solemn gravity with which a judge takes especial pains to proclaim himself-a certain long eared animal -which the ancient, but perhaps not more learned, Dogberry was so ambitious of being written downin reserving the most common questions of law that arise in the progress of a cause-pleading inability to decide them, and directing the jury as a mere matter of form to find a verdict, subject to the opinion of the court.

Should the party against whom the verdict is thus directed, feel disposed to insist upon his rights, as it sometimes happens, it is not always the surest way of sustaining them, but like the tardy schoolboy, he finds himself on slippery ground, taking two steps backward to one forward. The judge is too slippery an animal to be caught on so sharp a point as the rights of the parties, but in all such cases rules pro. forma., as he calls it, all the points against the refractory party, and directs the jury to find accordingly, gravely assuring him, perhaps, that his rights so far from suffering, will rather be promoted thereby, as he intends to make full amends, by the intensity of his attentive consideration. on the argument of the case for the frivolous inanity with which he turns it off, on the trial.

The consequence of this practice is, to render several trials necessary where there need have been but one, if the judges possessed would exercise a tithe of the legal knowledge and judicial acumen proper to the station he occupies. The costs are swelled up by this protracted litigation and parties are made fully to realize the vexations of the laws delay.

MAGNETIC TELEGRAPHS AND THE LIGHT

NING OF THE THUNDERS.

Copy of a Letter from PROFESSOR OLMSTED. "Yale College, June 22d, 1846.

"E. Meriam Esq.,

"Dear Sir-Your favor of May 28, has lain open on my table, for some days, waiting an answer, and my apology for not giving it an earlier attention is that I have been of late engrossed with sickness in my family which has left me but little time for any thing but indispensable duties.

"I look over the Municipal Gazette, which you have the kindness to send me, and place it on file among my most valuable collections in respect to the phenomena of natural electricity. The other parts are probably as equally interesting to other classes of readers.

"Your views of a connection between earthquakes and certain states of equilibrium of the atmosphere at different and distant places, are novel and ingenious, but I am apt to think that very extensive indications of facts are to be made before apparent coincidences of this kind can be fully depended on, that is, before they can safely be adopted as established principles.*

"The telegraph station in this city has been greatly I have even disturbed by the late thunder storms.

conceived that it is time to guard against personal danger from this source, and should perhaps offer my views to the public, if I had not heard that a much more competent individual (Professor Henry, of Princeton) is investigating the same subject at the Philadelphia station.

"The Brooklyn Star containing your meteorlogical article, and your correspondents account of the wonderful cave has duly reached me, for which please accept my thanks and believe me.

"Very truly, yours,

"DENISON OLMSTED."

*Since this letter from the distinguished Professor of Astronomy and Natural Philosophy in Yale College, came to hand, advices have reached New-York from Catania, in Sicily, that a severe earthquake was experienced at Catania on the 22d day of April, of the present year. In the Municipal Gazette of June 1, page 555, in a note at the bottom of the second column, we stated as follows: "We have no accounts of earthquakes on the 22d of April, but the peculiar state of the temperature gives abundant reason to suppose that air earthquake took place on that day near the equator."

My observations made on the night of the 23th and morning of the 29th of April, and published in the Brooklyn Star of April 29 and May 5, which are recited in the column of same page, record the particulars of the same state of the temperature of the atmosphere on the evening of the 28th and morning of the 29th as that of the night of the 22d, and morning of the 23d, and the accounts referred to above also state that on the 28th of April the shocks were renewed with increased violence. Thus we have two more illustrations making ten in all, during a period of six months, all demonstrating the same facts. The very learned professor says that my views, &c., "are novel" and this we are aware of-and he says also that they are ingeneous-they are the result of near eight months intense labor and application to most minute observation, day and night, and to this close unwearied application is the discovery of "the connection between earthquakes and certain states of equilibrium of the atmosphere at different and distant places." The result is that every carthquake which has taken place in the northern hemisphere during the period in which I have made record every hour has been predicted at my place of observation within 36 hours of the time of the convulsion, however distant the locality in which the shock was felt from my place of observation, and these recorded observations were published in the newspapers on the day they were completed and all of them many days, weeks or months before the accounts of the earthquake reached here. I therefore claim that the discovery is my own, and the result of patient persevering labor. Most of these records which were sent to the Editor of the Evening Star for publication were accompanied by a note saying that I felt a confidence that my observations terminating in the morning on which my note bore date, indicated that the equilibrium that I recorded had been produced by an earthquake, for the duration of the equilibrium was over eleven hours, which is too extensive to result from a violent thunder storm. Catania, in Sicily, is more than 89 degrees of longitude east of my place of observation, and more than three degrees of latitude south. The distance is therefore great.

VESSEL STRUCK BY LIGHTNING, SET ON FIRE, AND SIX PERSONS PERISHED.

The brig Columbia, Capt. Barter, of Savannah when about 60 miles from the Balize, on the night of the 3d of July inst., was struck by lightning, while six men were aloft reefing the top-sails. The lightning threw the six men into the sea, in which they all perished, descended the mast into the hold, and set the vessel on fire. The captain was the only person saved.

LIGHTNING. The mansion of Henry Van Wyck, of Washing. ton, Dutchess Co., was struck by lightning, on Sunday, the 5th July inst., while the occupants were at church. The building was consumed, together with a lot of wool. Loss $7,000.-Poughkeepsie Telegraph.

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"I would have acknowledged the receipt of your interesting communication before this time had I not been confined by an attack of sickness, which, although not severe, has prevented me from attending to any labours of a mental kind for several days past.

"I made a communication to the American Philosophical Society on Friday week in relation to the effect of atmospheric electricity on the telegraphic wires, and as soon as the article is printed in the proceedings of the society, which will be in the course of a week or two, I will send you a copy for publication in your paper.

"Your collection of notices of accidents by lightning is highly interesting, and I hope you will continue to increase it from year to year. I suppose the paper from which you have collected the accounts, contains very nearly all that has been published, still if opportunity presents it might be well to extend your enquiries to other publications and other countries.

"I am much interested in the phenomena of lightning, but it so happens that I am not well situated at Princeton to observe its effects. As a general rule the electrical cloud which approaches us from the south west divides into two parts, about three miles from the college, the one part passing to the north, and the other to the south of the village. We have frequent rain from thunder showers, but the principal part of the storm and the heavy thunder is usually at a distance. Occasionally a heavy bolt passes horizontally over us, and strikes at a distance generally to the south. It is well known that a flash of lightning is sometimes 6 or 8 miles long, and when one of them passes over a place the report may be very loud, and the thunder very near, and yet the point struck may

be several miles off.

"I am anxious to inspect the perforations in the tin gutters you mention, and when I next visit N. York, I shall endeavor to call on you for this purpose. I have in my possession a piece of a tin gutter perforated by lightning; The hole is about 3-4 of an inch in diameter, with a bur, consisting of the angular parts of the metal turned outwards.

"I see by the Comptes Rendu des seances de L academie des scinces, that you have made some communications on the subject of the number of deaths in this country by lightning to M. Arago, and that he has mentioned them to the academy.

"If during the summer an interesting case should occur of a discharge of lightning, if you will drop me a line, I will visit the place provided it is readily accessable. Most of the phenomena exhibited by the wires of the electrical telegraph are not due to the electricity of the atmosphere immediately, but to the disturbance of the natural electrity of the wire itself at the moment of the flash in the heavens, this fact I explain in my communication to the Philosophical Society. "With much respect, Yours, &c. "JOSEPH HENRY.

"E. Meriam, Esq,"

LIGHTNING.

The dwelling house of Mr. Underhill, situate about three miles east of the Fulton Ferry, was struck by lightning on the night of the eleventh of July inst., about 11 o'clock. I examined the premises the following Saturday. The lightning struck the north east chimney and shattered the top of it, and the last mark of its track I found on each side of the frame to the cellar window. In its descent it exploded and divided and some of it was in its progress in a state of combustion, leaving soot upon the surface it passed over. The family were in the rooms in the west side of the house which were not visited by the lightning. The weather boarding of the house is torn a few feet from the roof, and still further down the track of the lightning is visible in the fracture of the weather boarding. The window in the attic was visited, the outside blind unhinged, and the staple of the hook drawn out, and the window casing which covered the iron weights torn off. The person who usually lodged in this room had not retired to rest. The east front room of the second story contained a sheet iron stove, near to the fire-place, this was doubtless visited, for the marble mantle is broken on one side of it, and the floor torn by the lightning on the other; the lightning also appears to have passed through to the front portico over the front door and to have entered upon that, as its Sooty stains are to be seen at a point where the metal unites with the clapboarding of the front of the house. In the east front parlor the destruction was greater than in any other part of the house. The lath and plaster partition between this and the next room with which it was connected by a sliding door, was in that part of it between the door and the east wall, rent and torn, as were also the casings and mouldings. The brass slide on which the door

was moved here gave it a conductor and disarmed it of its fury. A large looking glass which has a gilded frame screwed to the wall of the room, was visited by the lightning. The gilding is in many places removed, in others discolored, and in others left unmarked. The looking glass was not broken, but I think there are two places upon it that is scratched, and in both of these the mercury has been sublimated. It was near sunset when I examined this glass, and although I used a good magnifying glass, yet the light was not sufficient to determine with great accuracy the minute traces of the lightning. In an account I gave in the Star, in 1844, of the terrific thunderbolt which struck Mr. Speck's house in Warren Street, Brooklyn, I narrated the visitation of the lightning to a large gilt framed looking-glass, and expressed the opinion that the gold leaf had been sublimated by the lightning, from the color. ing left upon a white muslin window curtain, but on a more particular examination of this case I am now inclined to the opinion that the coloring matter in both cases was the oxide of mercury, as the coloring is not so deep a purple as is produced by gold. I have been in the habit of using large quantities of both the Chinese and Trieste oxide of mercury for chemical purposes which has afforded me the opportunity of seeing the stains left by that mineral under the different degrees of heat to which I subjected it. The lightning divided into the room in minute globules, and in that state passed through the plastering in the same way that small shot perforate a board. The same divisibility was noticed in Mr. Speck's house, and also in that of Mr. Grinnel, and I have noticed the same phenomena in several other cases which I have examined. Quicksilver in this section of the earth is a fluid, while near the arctic pole it is solid, and this metal in its fluid state is divisible and separates into small globules.

There are no trees around Mr. Underhill's dwelling. A large circular stone stable, covered with a metallic roof, is within 250 feet of the dwelling-in this stable were about 70 cows. The milk in the cellar under Mr. Underhill's house was not affected by the lightning. On the north west corner of the house is a tin leader which conveys the water from the eave trough to the cistern; and there is a small tin spout which leads the water from the portico over the front door and here the lightning may have passed off without leaving any trace of its departure.

It will be recollected that on Saturday evening, the 11th of July, the whole border of the northern horizon was lighted by an almost continuous blaze of lightning, and the visitation of the lightning to the dwelling of Mr. Underhill was from that region.

LIGHTNING.

The violent thunder storm on Saturday afternoon, July 12, did considerable damage in the neighborhood of Boston. A large barn at West Dedham, was struck by lightning, and set on fire, and together with its contents, consisting of hay, a horse, wagons, &c., consumed. Another barn at Dedham was struck, and several trees shattered. A barn in Abington was destroyed, and a dwelling house injured, and at Newport, R. I., the lightning struck a schooner and shivered one of her masts to pieces.

During a violent storm on the 15th of June, in Donjow, (Alleir) says the Journal of Commerce, the lightning fell upon a party of pleasure in the woods consisting of five men and two females. Four men were killed on the spot, and the fifth was so affected that he died shortly after. The females were not injured.

METEOR.-On Monday evening a splendid meteor was seen at Lancaster, Carlisle, York, Hanover and Philadelphia, Pa., Baltimore, Maryland, and Salem, New-Jersey. At Lancaster, the account, in the Journal of Commerce states, it was seen emerging from behind a dense black cloud in the south west, crossed zenith with moderate movement toward the north east-its neucleous appeared about 6 inches in diameter with a tail in the form of a cone about two feet long. The light was equal to that of a full moon.No explosion was heard.

At Salem, New-Jersey, the light is also represented as equal to that of a full moon, and its duration one minute and a half. The Carlisle account represents that it passed over that Borough, but they saw it at the east, while the Philadelphia account states that it was visible from that city in the west. It was most probably an ærolite, and probably reached the earth.

Accounts from St. Petersburg, Russia, of the 22d of June state, that a tremendous hurricane passed along the banks of the Walga, which destroyed an immense quantity ef grain destined for the St. Petersburg market.

A terrible hurricane was experienced at Palmero, in Sicily on the 17th of April, the severest ever known there.

ICEBERGS.-Packet ship Westminster, which left London on the 5th of June, passed several icebergs between longitude 46 and 48, and in latitude 45.

On the 27th of June in latitude 44° 30', longitude 48° 40', icebergs were met by another vessel, which arrived at New-York.

THE WEATHER, &c. AT SYRACUSE. Copy of a Letter from L. W. CONKEY, Esq. "Syracuse, July 11th, 1846.

"Dear Sir,

"The suggestion you have made to Mr. Preston in relation to the reverberatory furnace for the crystalization of salt, I think is a good one, and from the description you give of it, I think it cannot fail to operate well, and would like to hear of the result of the experiment, should the plan be carried into operation. You asked me if my " Thermometer was open to an eastern exposure in the morning." It is for a short time after sunrise. I endeavor to shade it as much as possible while the sun shines on the north side of the building, which is but a short time. I have compared the observations made by my thermometer with others in a different locality, and find no perceptible difference; it is a self-regulating thermometer, therefore the sunrise observations would be correct. We have had a few days of very warm weather. Thursday, the 9th, my thermometer stood as follows: sunrise 60°, 9 A.M. 76°, 3 P.M. 80, 9 P. M.72. Friday, sunrise 710, 9 A.M., 82, 3 P.M. 94, 9, do. 76. Temperature of the water in the solar salt vats 104. Saturday, sunrise 680, 9 A. M., 76°, 3 P. M. 90, 9, P. M. 75°. Dew point 3 P. M. 72, much above its usual height. Barometer 29,40. At 4 P. M. we were visited with a very severe thunder shower, accampanied with a gale of wind, our coarse salt fields suffered considerably, notwithstanding the covers on the vats were well secured with hooks, several hundred of them were blown entirely from the vats. This storm did not last but about fifteen minutes. Electricity was active during this storm, and for a time the rain poured down in torrents. The steeple to the Catholic Church in Salina was blown down, and considerable damage done; chimneys were also blown down, trees suffered considerably, and a building on James Street was entirely demolished. "The rain fell 50-100 inch.

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"Your highly esteemed favor of the 10th ultimo, was duly received, and by yesterday's mail, the June No. of your" Municipal Gazette " came to hand, for both of which I am greatly obliged.

"In your letter you remark that you "have the utmost confidence in the advantage of the suggestion made to Mr. Preston, of the economy of making salt in reverberatory furnaces." I wish that you had been a little more explicit on this point, or rather that you had given your suggested plan a little more in detail, for this is a method of evaporation with which I am entiyely unacquainted. And it seems to me that there would be insurmountable practical difficulties, in applying it to salt making. But perhaps I do not comprehend your plan. I suppose however that you would apply the heat to the surface of the brine. If I am correct in my supposition, would not the sparks from the fuel be deposited in the liquid and be retained in the salt? Your evaporating vessel which contains the brine, would need be tightly covered with some material which is a good non-conductor of heat, or there would be a great waste of fuel, as heat has strong tendency to rise, and it also seems to me that, in order to apply it with any degree of economy to the surface of this brine that the apparatus must be so constructed as to render it very inconvenient to withdraw the salt when it had formed. I should be highly gratified in hearing further from you on this subject.*

It is a very important desideratum to ascertain under what circumstances a given amount of fuel will evaporate the greatest quantity of water. On this subject there are a thousand conflicting theories, but no well authenticated, or established principles have yet been discovered. The quantity of fuel consumed in the United States is enormous. In the State of NewYork, that used alone for making salt exceeds 100,000 cords of wood annually, which must strip about 2000 acres of forest land of its timber. I have little doubt that one-half of this fuel, if applied in the most judicious manner would answer the purpose of the whole.

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You made a suggestion to me some years sincə which involves this question. What is the avaporation of a given quantity of water, which should be exposed to the heat of a given quantity of fuel, consumed in a given time? I have not solved that question yet, but it should be solved, and many others also related to it, which are much more intricate and important than at first view may appear.

The government of the United States has expended a large sum of money in testing the quality of the many varities of mineral coal, for the purpose of ascertaining which kind is best adapted to the use of our steam vessels of war. The experiments were no doubt made with great accuracy by the learned gentleman under whose direction they were conducted, and they will no doubt prove useful for the purpose for which they were intended. I think however that they should have been extended to an enquiry concerning the best form of evaporating-vessels and the best method of combustion, with reference to the proper quantity of oxygen to be used, and the manner of applying it, and many other points which have a reference to that important question in which the whole community have so deep an interest. How may the largest quantity of water be evaporated by the smallest quantity of fuel?

No individual can afford to solve this question. It will cost too much. Its solution will be of public utility. The public should defray the expense.

46

The fire-brick about which you enquire have not yet been taken out of the kiln, but I expect they will be in a week or two. I will let you know the result.

"Mr. King's meterological table for the month of June. I send you herewith. Mr. Milnor did not receive the rain-gauge yon purchased for him in time to note the rain in June, but he has commenced with this month, and will furnish you with his table at its close. "I hope that by this time you are enjoying the luxury of breathing the pure and exhilerating air of the Adirondack mountains, that you may ultimately return with renewed vigour, to your ardous task of correcting those flagrant abuses, and oppressions which have so long been endured by the unprotected, the widow and fatherless, at the hand of mercenary, heartless men, under the sanction of law.

"E. Meriam, Esq.

66

Truly yours,

46 THOS. SPENCER.

*NOTE by the Editor of the M. Gazette.

THE REVERBERATORY FURNACE.-An excavation in the ground 30 feet long, 16 feet wide and six feet deep-within this, place a vat made of wood and surrounded by clay 28 feet long 14 feet wide, and 5 feet deep in the clear. Over this build a brick arch 16 inches thick laid in thin lime and sand mortar-let the brick be laid very close together so as to make close joints. Each end under the brick arch place a brick wall 16 inches thick resting on the upper rim of the vat, in each of these walls place a cast iron box stove, four feet long, in the centre of each end wall, and let the front of the stove come 4 inches outside of the inner surface of the brick wall, so that the fuel can be placed in the stove for combustion without disturbing the inside of the chamber-let the pipe of the stove extend up perpendicularly through the crown of the arch, and fifteen feet above it to carry off the smoke. In the arch, place as many cast iron hollow frame made in the shape of brick as will take off the steam as fast a it is generated by the heat of the fire from the stoves. These cast iron vent frames should have lids to them to lift similar to the lid of a teakettle. These frames aud lids could all be cast from two patterns and these would be cheap. The evaporating furnace or chamber thus constructed fill to the depth of five feet with brine-then set fire to the fuel in the two stoves and continue it until all the brine is evaporated. A chamber of this kind thus filled would hold about 14,000 gallons of brine which of the density of the Saltville brine, would produce about 650 bushels of salt. The expense of making salt by this plan is easily ascertained. One laborer could attend upon four stoves and split up the fuel. The salt would be of large crystals and would avoid the difficulty experienced in crusting in iron kettles from the caking upon the bottoms. The salt could be withdrawn when completed by a trap door to be made in the centre of the arch, as the fires would gradually cool down at the close of the process, and the chambers would soon acquire a temperature that a laborer could descend and shovel the salt into a tub, to be lowered down the trap by a windlass. The advantage of excavating a pit in the ground is that the earth will support the outside of the vat and preserve the temperature of the interior fluid in cold weather. The brick of the arch would absorb the

heat and retain it. No smoke or dust could combine with the brine to injure the salt. The stoves should have beneath each of them a stove hearth with rimmed or raised edges to catch all the droppings from it. The air of the chambers would be heated, and thus evaporate from the surface-the salt as fast as it formed would sink to the bottom. The brine should be conveyed into the chambers by a tube, and the arch should be covered with a coating of plastering, and then filled over to prevent being broken.

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"You will please excuse the liberty I take in addressing you this, but believing you feel a lively interest in the developements and resources of our State and country. I have ventured to send you a small sample of saline water for your inspection, by request of Mr. Asell Willcox, the enterprising ownerof the spring now being bored, a description of which may be somewhat interesting, it being situate at the head of Little Sodus Bay, fourteen miles west of this place, and distant from the bay about half a mile up a small ravine and stream that empties into the bay. Its waters collect from the drainage of some flat and rather swampy lands in the immediate neighborhood of the salt spring. This spring had been long known as a deer lick, something more prominent than others in the neighborhood. Within a few years past when speculation ran high, this spot was sought out and operated upon, but without success. Owing to a want of skill it was abandoned, not however until they had improved the water by curbing at great labor and expense to shut off the top fresh water in a partial man

ner.

"Just about one year since I have had charge of the experiment of sinking a shaft and boring down to the present depth of 316 feet. When I began the the water was about 8 or 9 per cent. of strength and not steady at that. When the swamps were full it was weaker, &c. &c.

"I began by sinking a tight tubing: as fast as I made the boring so fast went down the tube, until I came to the rock at about 32 feet from the surface or top of the ground, and at the junction of the rock, which is the red shale species, with alternate layers of hard grit sand stone. I had a copious flow of water of about 15 per cent. of strength, with a rush of sand and gravel. However, I succeeded in cutting into the rock, and pushed down the tube so as to shut out all of the water previously met with. I then set to with a 4 inch drill, and have attained the depth specified, and am still progressing, and the water has continued to increase in volume and strength. It is now running over the surface of the ground through an aperture in the stationary tube, but the water that overflows is not so strong as that which we draw from the bottom of the boring, which is as often as we change our drills, we clear out the boring and test the water.

"Now, Sir, if you can see anything in this simple description, worthy your notice, and not infringe too much on your valuable time, you will confer a favor by examining the bottle of water, and address me a few lines on the subject of its merits and qualities, as it is a subject that very much interests the owner, as well as the community at large in the neighborhood of its location. "Your obedient servant,

"E. Meriam, Esq."

44

LEVI DISBROW."

The bottle of water which our correspondent speaks of, has come to hand. On being uncorked and poured off into a white glass bottle, I found it very clear, but in a few days it underwent a change, and discovers much mineral in solution, and has now upori its surface an irridescent covering that is beautiful when brought in contact with the rays of solar light. -ED.

TALCY EARTH.

We have received from Mr. John Whitcomb, of Keeseville, Essex County, a specimen of Talcy Earth, of which he has a large deposite upon his land-it is valuable and if properly prepared will make the very best of Fire-brick.

METEORLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS. Made upon Brooklyn Heights, for the month of June, 1846.

Monday, June 1.-4 o'clock A. M. 60°; 5, 60; 6, 62; 7, 62; 9, 66; 10, 68; 11, 67; 12, 69; 1, 69; 2, 70; 230, 71; 3, 72; 4, 72; 5, 70; 6, 68; 7, 66; 8, 65; 9, 63; 10, 623. Morning cloudy. Afternoon clear till 7 o'clock, at which a dense fog settled down from a higher region of the atmosphere.

June 2.-1 A. M. 60; 5, 59, foggy; 6, 59; 7, 61; 8, 66; 10, 72; 10 30, 70; 11, 70; 11 15, 69, Rain; 11 30, 68; 12, 67; 12 30, 64; 1, 66; 2, 68; 3, 67; 4, 67; 5, 66; 6, 66;7, 65; 8, 63; 10, 63; 11, 62. June 3.-4 A. M. 63; 5, 63; 6, 63; 7, 65; 8, 67; 9, 68: 10, 70; 11,72; 12, 74; 1, 77; 2, 76; 2 30, 77; 4, 40, 77; 5, 80; 6, 77; 7, 75; 7 45, 73; 8,73; 9, 71; 11, 68. Strong west wind at 10 o'clock, A.M. Storm of hail, wind and rain, visited Belleville, Ill., at half-past 2 p.m. Slight fog at 5 a.m.

A writer in the Missouri Republican of the third instant says:-At about half-past 2 o'clk. P. M. our town was visited by a tremendous storm of wind, rain and hail; the hail was not so severe here as it was a short distance east of this place. The eastern stage was four or five miles from this place near the residence of Governor Kinney, when the storm struck it. The hail broke through the top of the stage, knocked the driver down, and the horses ran off. There was but 1 passenger in the stage, a young gentleman going to Salem, who succeeded in getting out before the horses got under full headway. I have just seen the young man, who returned to this place as soon as the storm abated. His hat was knocked off. I have seen it; it has three holes knocked through; one of the holes directly on top as large round as a man's fist. The young man ran to a tree, pulled off his coat and held it over his head, and in holding it his arm was so bruised that he now carries it in a sling. Some of the hail stones have been brought into this place three hours after they fell, as large as a man's fist.

Hogs and sheep were killed by the force of the hail. The roof of a house near where this passenger got out of the stage, had holes driven through and the windows knocked in-sash, glass and all. I have not seen any one from the neighborhood so as to ascertain what damage has really been done, or what extent of ground was covered by the storm. Those that have seen some of the hail stones soon after they fell, think that many were as large as a man's two fists. Take it all in all, I think you may put it down as one of the most extraordinary hail storms that have ever passed over this part of the country.

June 4.-4 A. M. 64; 5,63: 6, 67; 7, 68; 8, 70; 9, 72; 11, 77; 12,78; 1, 81; 230, 81; 3, 80; 4, 80; 5, 80; 5 45, 78; 553, 77; 6, 10, 76; 6 15, 76; 6 20, 76; 6, 22,76; 6 30, 75; 6 40, 75; 6, 45, 74; 7,73. 730,74; 8.73; 9, 72; 11, 71. Heavy rain at Savannah, Georgia, and at Charleston, South Carolina. At 2 P. M. light clouds and strong wind at 5 45, heavy clouds in S. W., 5 53 rain. 610 to 45 thunder and lightning. At 7 and 7 30 heavy rain. Telegraph Wires struck by lightning at Jersey City. Thunder and lightning during the night.

June 5.-4, 70; 5, 70; 6, 70; 7.71: 8,71; 9,73; 10, 75: 11, 77; 12, 80; 1, 81; 1 30, 81; 2, 82; 4, 81; 5, 81; 6, 50, 80; 7, 80; 7 10, 79; 7 30, 78; 8, 76; 10, 72. Heavy rain at Charleston, S. C. The cotton factory of Samuel Hopkins of Exeter, R. I struck by lightning and with its contents consumed Loss $6000. At 6 50 P. M. thunder, at 7, very dark and 7 10, rain.

June 6.-4 o'clock, 62; 5, 62; 7, 62; 8, 64; 9, 61, 10, 70; 11, 70; 12, 71; 1, 72; 2, 72; 3, 73; 4, 73; 5, 72; 6.72; 7, 70; 8, 67; 9, 64; 11, 63.

June 7.-4, 58; 5, 58; 5 30, 62; 6, 62; 7, 62; 7 30, 62; 8, 10, 64; 10, 66; 11, 72; 12, 72: 1, 73; 2, 74; 4, 72; 5, 70; 6, 67; 7, 64; 8, 63; 10, 61. Schooner H. Scranston, bound from Richmond, Va., to Philadelphia, with a cargo of coal, was struck by lightning off Hog Island the night of the 7th of June inst. One man killed, and all on board severely stunned-both her masts shivered to pieces. She put into Norfolk on the 15th inst. in distress.

Monday June 8.-4, 59; 5, 58; 6, 61; 7, 64; 8, 64; 9, 65; 10, 67; 11, 25, 68; 12, 35, 72; 2, 75; 3, 73; 4, 72; 5. 71; 6, 70; 7, 68; 8, 65; 9, 63; 10, 62; 11, 60. Cloudy at 7 A. M. Sprinkle of Rain at 9 A.M. Rain commenced falling at Salisbury, N. C.. with a wind from North East, and continued without half an

hour's intermission until Thursday the 11th at noon. June 9.-4 A. M. 58; 5. 59; 6, 62; 7, 62; 8, 64; 9, 65; 10, 68; 11 15, 68; 12, 71; 1, 74; 2, 76; 3, 73; 4, 71; 5, 69; 6, 67; 7, 66; 8, 64; 9, 62; 10, 30, 62; Cloudy at 2 P. M. Hail storm at Marshall, Michigan.

June 10.-4 A. M. 60; 5, 60; 6, 43; 7, 64; 8, 65; 9, 66; 10, 67; 11,60; 12, 69; 1, 70; 2,71; 3,714; 4, 70; 5, 70; 6, 69; 7, 67; 8, 66; 9, 64; 10, 62; 11, 62.

June 11;-4 A. M. 62; 5, 63; 6, 64; 7,66; 8,69; 9, 71; 10, 71; 11,72; 12, 74; 1, 77: 2, 76; 2 45, 74; 4, 72; 5, 74: 6, 73; 7, 72; 8, 70; 9, 69; 10 68. Cloud in the far west at 5 A. M. Sprinkle of rain at 5 P. M.

June 12.-4 A. M. 64; 5, 63; 6, 62; 7, 30, 62; 9, 62; 10. 64; 11, 67; 12, 70; 1, 72; 2, 72; 3, 72: 4, 72; 5, 72; 6, 70; 7, 67; 8, 65: 9 20, 62; 10, 61. Ship Hugenot, of 1000 tons, struck by lightning,

on

a voyage from New-Orleans to Liverpool, with a cargo of cotton, The lightning descended the mainmast into the hold and ignited the cotton, and the vessel put into Savannah in distress. Her upper decks were burnt nearly through. Fifty or more of the burning bales were thrown overboard. We had a conversation with one of the owners of this vessel a few months since, and urged upon him the importance of lightning rods for the protection of ships.

June 13.-4 A. M. 57; 5, 56; 6, 61; 7, 63; 8 30, 67; 10, 68; 11, 69: 12, 69; 1, 69; 2, 69; 3, 69; 4, 68; 5, 67; 6, 66; 7, 66; 8, 65; 9, 63; 101, 62. Cloudy all day. June 14.-4, 60; 5, 67; 11, 68; 11 20, 70; 6, 70; 7, 68; 8, 68; 9, day. Monday June 15.-4, 65; 5, 65; foggy; 6, 66: 7, 68; 8, 70; 9, 70; 10, 71; 11, 73; 12, 76; 1, 77, 2, 77; 3, 78; 4, 78; 5, 78; 6. 77; 7, 76; 8, 74; 9 72; 10, 72. Lightning in the north at 9 P. M. 5 P. M. thunder storm at Newburyport, Mass. vessel lying at the wharf struck by lightning. and tree struck near by. Barn struck by lightning at Brookline, Mass. Barn and contents consumed, oxen and 4 cows killed. Norfolk, Va., paper of today states that rain has fallen there during all last week.

58; 6, 60; 8, 61; 9. 63; 10, 12, 72: 1, 72; 2, 74; 5,72; 67; 10 15, 67. Cloudy all

At A

House

At Lynn.-A large cottage in process of erection for B. R. Curtis, Esq., of Boston, was struck by lightning during a thunder shower, on Monday morning.

June 16.-4 A. M. 66; 5; 67; 6, 71; 7, 73; 9, 75; 10, 76; 11,77; 12,78: 1,70: 2,79; 3, 80; 4,79; 5, 76; 6.74 6 10, 72; 6 30, 70; 7 30, 68; 9, 66. Two cows killed by lightning at Newington, near Hartford, Conn. They were feeding near a tree. Storm at Charleston, S. Č., the wind and rain doing great injury to the crops.

June 17.-4 A. M. 61; 5, 61; 6, 63; 7,66; 8, 68; 9, 68; 10, 70; 11, 70; 12, 71; 1, 71; 2, 71; 3, 71; 4,71; 5, 714; 6, 70: 7,69; 8, 69; 9,66; 11 15, 63;

Melancholy death.-On Middle River, Va., a distressing instance of death occurred on the 17th inst. Mrs, Ann Karlkoffe, wife of Mr. Jacob Karlkoffe, just after the shower which fell on that evening went to a wagon in front of the house to get some wood, and as she was standing on the wheel the lightning struck her. Her husband on hearing the report ran to the door and found her lying on the ground apparently lifeless. He picked her up immediately and carried her into the house, but after laying her upon the bed she made one gasp, thus showing that life was not wholly extinct. It is greatly to be regretted that the experiment of pouring water copiously was not made, (as ought to be done in all such cases) for it might have been the means of saving her. Mrs. Karlkoffe was about thirty years of age, and left four small children, one of whom is but a few months old, to the care of her bereaved and disconsolate husband. June 18.-4 A. M. 634; 5, 64; 6, 64; 7. 66. 7 30, 67; 8, 68; 8 30, 69; 9,71; 10, 30, 74: 11, 74; 12, 76; 1,80; 1 30, 80; 2, 80; 2 30, 81, 3, 80; 3 30,79; 4, 78; 5, 77; 6, 75: 7, 734; 8, 73; 9, 71; 10, 71; 11,704.

June 19.-2 A. M. 70; 4, 70; 5, 70; 6, 71; 7, 72; 8, 74; 9, 74; 10 15,76; 1178; 12, 80; 1,82; 2, 82; 3, 83: 4, 83; 4 30, 82; 5, 82; 5 5, 81; 5 10, 79; 5 15, 78; 5 25, 77; 5 30, 76; 5 35,75; 5 50, 73; 6 73; 7, 73; 9 30, 71. Thunder clouds in sight ot 4 30 P. M. Rain 5, 15. Thunder and lightning 5 35 to 5, 50. Gale of wind at Quebec this night. Thunder storm and wind squall at Harris

burg, Pa. Heavy rain squall at Kochester, NewYork. Lightning struck a house in Boston and others in Cambridge.

At Portsmouth, N. H.-A house at the north part of the town, owned by John Plumer Dennet, Esq., was struck on Friday evening, killing a cat in the arms of one of the inmates, without injuring the individual or doing much damage to the house.

June 20.-3 40 A. M. 68; 4, 68; 5, 69; 6, 71, 7, 72; 8, 73; 9, 73: 10, 74; 11, 77; 12, 78; 1, 81; 2, 81; 2 30, 81; 3 10, 79; 3 15, 78; 3 20, 75; 3 25,74; 3 45, 73, 4, 72; 5, 35, 72; 6, 71; 7, 71; 8, 71; 8, 30, 70; 9, 15, 68; 10, 68.

Great Rain storm at Albany at 2 o'clock P. M. Violent storm at Bucks County. Pa. Hail storm at Sandlake, Pittstown, Brunswick, Nassau, and Poettenskill. Hail lay upon the ground three days. Hail storm at Danville, Pa., at 3 P. M. At Brooklyn, N. Y., at 3 P. M. a black cloud came up with great wind. 31 rain; 320 very cold rain; 325 thunder and lightning. A correspondent of the U. S. Gazette, writing from Danville, Pa, under date of the 25th ult., gives the following account of a hail storm which occurred in that neighborhood on Saturday June 20th.

The storm commenced about 3 P. M. with heavy thunder and vivid lightning. The hail fell for about a quarter of an hour with such force and violence as to break almost all the windows in town, and destroying grain, fruit and garden vegetables, uprooting orchards and forest trees, and unroofing barns and houses for a distance of eight miles in length along the Susquehannah, and four or five miles in width, commencing some four miles below Danville, and extending over the township of Rush in Northumberland Co., on the south side of the River. Some of the hail stones are said to have measured between five and six inches in circumference. Several cattle are reported to have been killed among the ruins of barns; and it is also said that some lives have been lost. The loss of window glass in Danville is estimated at from $800 to $1000.

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At West Springfield.-The Republican states that a son of Mr. Justus Bagg was harrowing in the field, on Saturday afternoon, when the thunder storm came As he attempted to unhitch the horse to go home, the lightning struck the animal and killed him-then passed down the draft chain to the whiffletree, which it split, and wounded the boy's hand without giving him any other injury.

June 21.-4 o'clock 61; 5, 61; 6, 62: 7, 67; 8, 5 67; 9, 67; 10, 68; 12, 69; 2, 67; 3, 67; 4, 67; 30,65; 6, 64; 7, 62; 8, 61; 9, 60; 10, 57.

Monday June 22.-3, 54; 5, 521; 6, 56; 7, 56}; 8, 59; 9, 61; 10, 59; 11, 62; 11, 30, 61; 12, 63; 1, 64; 2, 62; 3, 66; 5, 62; 6. 62; 7, 61; 8 30, 60; 9, 59. Rain shower at 11 A. M. and at 1 P. M. June 23.-4, 52; 5, 52; 6, 53; 7, 56; 8, 56; 9, 57; 10, 59; 11, 59; 12, 61; 1, 65; 2, 67; 3, 67; 4, 68; 5, 67; 6, 66; 7, 64; 8, 64; 8, 30, 63; 9, 61; 11, 30, 58. Cold wind in the morning, rain during the night.

June 24.-4 A. M. 53; 5, 56; 6, 58; 7,59; 8, 61; 9, 64; 10, 66; 10, 66; 12, 68; 1,70; 2,71; 3,73; 4, 73; 5, 74; 6, 70; 7, 68; 8, 67; 9, 63; 10,62; 11, 61. Shower in the night.

June 25.-4 A. M. 59; 5, 60; 6, 61; 7, 62; 8,67; 9, 68; 10, 69. Thunder storm at 11 P. M. 11, 71; 12,73; 1, 73, 5, 73; 6, 70; 7, 67; 8,67; 9, 65; 10, 634

June 26,-4 A. M. 61; 5, 62; 6, 64; 7, 66; 8, 71; 9, 764; 10, 80; 11 15; 81; 12, 83; 1, 82; 2, 84; 2 15, 83; 2 30, 83; 3, 82: 3 30, 81; 4, 79; 4 10, 78; 5, 74; 6, 74; 6 30, 72; 7, 72; 7; 42, 70; 9 35, 67; 10, 30, 65. Thunder at 4 P. M. Rain at 6, 30, and 4 10 P. M.

June 27.-4 A. M. 60; 5, 60; 6, 60; 7, 61; 8, 62; 9, 64; 10, 65; 11, 66; 12, 68; 1, 69; 2, 71; 2 30, 72; 3, 73; 4, 73; 5, 71; 6, 68; 7, 66; 8, 66; 10, 30, 62-cloudy and windy.

June 28.-4 A. M. 624; 5, 62; 6, 65; 6, 10, 64; 7, 65; 8, 65; 9, 65; 10, 67; 11, 68; 12, 68; 1, 68; 2, 68; 3, 68; 4, 67; 5, 67; 6, 66; 8, 66; 9, 64; 9 10, 66; 11, 64-Rain 6 A. M. Cloud in S. W. at 4 A. M. Showery at 3 P. M.

Monday, June 29.-4, 634; 5, 631; 6, 63}; 7, 63; 8, 64; 9, 67; 10, 67; 11, 68; 12, 72; 1, 74; 2, 73; 3, 75; 4, 73; 5, 73; 6,73; 7, 71; 10, 68. Cold wind, cloudy at 4 A. M.

June 30, 4 A.M. 68, 5, 68; 6, 68; 7 68; 8, 70;9,71; 10, 71; 11, 73; 12, 72; 1, 78; 2, 72: 3, 71; 4, 71; 5,71; 6, 71; 7, 70; 8, 68; 9, 67. Cloudy during the day.

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