Remarkable Discovery of a Cave, In Colebrook, in Litchfield county, near the Massachusetts line. COLEBROOK, CONN., 2 For several days past, our usually quiet little town has been in quite a " commotion " in consequence of a rumored discovery of a large cavern in the north-west part of the town, bordering on Massachusetts. I, at first, supposed the story to be a hoax, and treated it as such, but, being assured to the contrary, by a respectable neighbor, who said he had seen the cave, I was induced to visit the place designated, and have had ocular demonstration of the truth of the report. It may appear incredible that a great cavern should have remained so long unknown in this inhabited region, but it is nevertheless true. It is probably large, but how large is not known, as it has been explored but about a quarter of a mile, and no one can be found who ever heard of its existence before. I have agreed with a number of my neighbors to explore the cavern as far as practicable, and I propose, with your permission, to give the result of our researches from time to time, through the medium of your paper. The mouth of the cavern is on the farm of Mr. Jonas Randall, in the north-west part of the town, within a mile and a half of the Massachusetts line. It is a barren, rocky, unfrequented spot-a projecting cliff, of craggy rock full one hundred feet high, hangs over it with an aspect so threatening as to daunt the courage of the less daring. Why it does not fall over no one can tell. It seems to stand against all the known laws of gravitation. It is called the "Witch's Retreat," but why I know not. When I was a boy, my father lived within one mile of this place, and I have spent hours with other boys, clambering over the rocks, and up the side of this precipice. The mouth of the cavern, at the bottom of the precipice, is covered with a huge mass of rocks which have evidently fallen from the cliff above. Some of them are very large, and from their size and form one may easily discover the place from which they fell. There was nothing in the general appearance of the place indicating the existence of such a cavern, and one might clamber about there a week and not suspect such a thing. The only opening was under a large rock, and scarcely large enough for a boy to crawl into. It could only have been discovered by accident, as it was. Two weeks ago last Sabbath, one of Mr. Randall's boys, a bold, adventurous little fellow, and two others scarcely less so, wandering about the fields for pastime, came to this spot. While they were amusing themselves by climbing about and hiding among the rocks, one of the boys, without knowing why, put his head into this hole under the rock, and shouted "halloo !" He started back at the strange sound, and called his companions. Each in turn, put his head under the rock and made some noise, which resounded like the response of an hundred voices. Boys though they were, they had hallooed into too many cisterns and vaults not to know that such reverberations indicated room inside. So young Randall proposed they should go in and see what discoveries they could make. This the other boys declined doing. But young Randall, nothing daunted by the fears of his comrades, boldly declared he would go in alone. He crawled in about eight feet, when he found there was room enough to stand upright. A few straggling rays of light found their way between the rocks, but not sufficient to discover the dimensions of the place he was in. He seemed to feel, however, that he was in a large place, as a man blindfolded will feel the difference between a small room and a large one. He uttered a loud shriek with a view to frighten his companions outside, but the sound was so wild and terrific it only frightened himself, and he came out much quicker than he went in. This was a discovery just suited to the adventurous dispositions of these boys, and they resolved to make the most of it. Before they parted, they agreed to keep the thing a secret from all others, and to meet there on the next Sunday, prepared with old clothes, matches, a lantern, &c. to explore the "new cave," as they call it. The next Sunday they repaired to their rendezvous, accoutred according to agreement, and provided with the necessary implements, they prepared to enter. Boys, like men, will rarely acknowledge a want of courage, but as each accused the other of being afraid, I conclude they were all half frightened out of their wits, for it had occurred to them that this place was called "The Witch's Retreat," and this cave might be full of witches. But with some hesitation and many misgivings, they at length entered. With lantern in hand, they proceeded cautiously forward, taking good care to keep in sight of the hole by which they entered. Having gone about ten rods without meeting with any boundary to their cave, and their small entering place beginning to grow dim in the distance, they judged it prudent to venture no farther. The cavern was much too large for them to explore, and they concluded to confide the secret to older and wiser heads. Before going out, they determined to give a loud shout altogether. I have since tried it. The reverberations are most terrific. Scarcely had the echo of their shout died away, when to their consternation and horror, it was answered by a low, suppressed growl, which seemed within a few rods of them. With one impulse they darted towards the place of entrance. The boy who had a lantern dropped it in his fright, and it was not without much rending of clothes, and many severe contusions of body, that they got themselves out. I state this on the authority of the boys.We have not yet found any animal, nor tracks nor traces of one large enough to have made the noise which the boys assure us they heard. The boys having reported their discovery, Mr. Randall and several of his neighbors went to the place, with guns, and crowbars to force an entrance. This, however, they were not able to do. The rocks were so large as to resist every effort to remove them. They bethought themselves of the expedient of blasting. By this means, on Saturday last they effected an entrance large enough for a man to walk in upright. When I arrived, on Monday evening, there were some twenty persons around the cavern, and others in it. I borrowed a lantern and joined those on the inside. The mouth of the cavern is towards the south-east. If all the loose stones in and around it, which seems to have fallen there from the cliff above, were removed, the mouth would be, as near as I can judge, about fifty feet wide and thirty feet high. The air, on entering, has a peculiar smell, which I can compare to nothing. I imagine the candle burned less brilliantly than in the open air. For the first three or four rods, the way is a good deal obstructed by sharp rocks; then comes a smooth, gravelled floor, as hard as a McAdamised road. Ten rods from the entrance, we measured and found the width to be eighty-three feet; and again, at thirty rods, we found it sixty-seven feet. The sides are quite even, especially the east side, which is as smooth as if it had been chiseled. The roof is broken and craggy; in some parts rising very high, at others descending within ten feet of the floor. The flooring for the most part is level and smooth, consisting of stone and hard gravel. We met with several deep pits, into one of which we were near falling. Two of them resembled wells. We sounded one to the depth of nine fathoms, and found water, and another to the depth of five and a half fathoms, which appeared to be dry. The main part of the cave is remarkably straight and uniform in width, for the most part. It runs in a north and north-east direction for a quarter of a mile, where it ends abruptly. We met with numerous openings at the right and left, some large enough to admit a horse and carriage, and others scarcely a man. We only marked them with chalk and passed on to the end of what seemed to be the main part of the cavern. Here we stopped for a few moments. All stood without speaking, gazing about with admiration and wonder. The silence was painful. No dropping of water, or creaking of insects, not a sound could be heard but the low, suppressed breathing of the company. It seemed as if I could hear their hearts beat. I looked at my barometerit had risen several degrees. The thermometer stood at 604. As we prepared to retrace our steps, we discovered an opening on the west side, a few rods from the termination of the MISCELLANEOUS. part of the cavern we were in. We drew near and listened. There was a low murmuring sound, as of a distant water fall, and the air which issued from it seemed colder and damper. This led us to suppose it must be of very great extent, but were too cold and weary to prosecute our researches farther at this time. I perceive, by looking over, that my description thus far is very imperfect, hurried, and scarcely intelligible, but I have no room, to add more, and no time to write longer. Next week I shall give you further particulars of this wonderful work of nature-wonderful for these parts-with a faithful account of all new discoveries therein. Yours, truly, N. C. BRODNAX. Superior Court. OBITUARY. 229 our obituary notices yesterday, the name of Joseph TownIt was with feelings of deep sorrow that we recorded among send, one of our oldest and most useful citizens. Connectry, with almost every public enterprise having for its object ed, as he has been, for the period of more than half a centu the advancement of the city, his demise will cause a blank in society which it will be hard indeed to fill. vania, in 1756. In 1777 he witnessed the battle of BrandyMr. Townsend was born in Chester County, in Pennsylwine, in which, however, being a member of the peaceful Society of Friends, he took no part, and in consequence of the devastation from that battle he was compelled to change his residence. The prospects offered by the natural advantages of the then Town of Baltimore, induced him to choose this place as his home. His active business habits and unbending integrity soon became apparent, and the many evidences of the confidence of his fellow citizens show the estimation in which he has been at all times held. In the year of the Baltimore Equitable Insurance Company, he was cho1794, having been mainly instrumental in the establishment ful and prosperous Institution, and he has now administered sen the Treasurer (that being the chief officer) of that use its affairs for the long period of forty-seven years without blemish or reproach. Nathaniel Jones vs. The Etna Insurance Company. This was an action of scire facias, brought to recover the amount of a judgment obtained by the present plaintiff, residing in Montreal in Lower Canada, against Francis Baby, formerly a resident of Lower Canada, but now of Albany in the state of new York, at the November Term of the County Court 1838, for this County, for the sum of 1174 dollars and 95 cents damages, and 13 dollars and 68 cents cost of suit. The plaintiff sought to recover the amount of the aforesaid judgment of the Etna Insurance Company by process of foreign attachment, on the ground that at the time of the commencement of the former suit, said Company was indebted to said Baby. It appeared in evidence that said Company had become indebted upon a policy of Insurance, effected upon property belonging to the wife of said Baby; and that previously to the marriage of said Baby, the property belonging to his wife was settled upon her in such manner as to be beyond the reach or disposition of her husband. It appeared also that Mr. Baby had acted as the agent of his wife in the management of her property. The great question in this case was, whether the indebtedness of said Company to Mrs. Baby upon a policy of Insurance effected upon property, which by the laws of Canada had beed secured to the wife, and placed beyond the reach or control of the hus-enterprises.—Baltimore American. band, could, by process of foreign attachment, in this State, be made liable to pay the debt of Mr. Baby to the present plaintiff. It being a question of law, the Court instructed the jury, that the laws of Canada, in relation to the property of the wife, residing there, having been proved, were binding here, in the present case, and that consequently, upon the evidence admitted, the indebtedness of said Insurance Company to Mrs. Baby could not be made liable to pay the debt of her husband to the present plaintiff. The jury thereupon without leaving their seats returned a verdict for the to lay out the city of Baltimore as at present established, and Mr. Townsend was one of the Commissioners appointed though he traced the course of many of our principal streets over hills and through marshes, he had the proud satisfaction of seeing them grow into populous and well built thoroughfares. His philanthropy and benevolence was strongly displayed during the prevalence of the Yellow Fever in this city, in 1794, 1797, 1800 and 1819, during which several periods, his exertions in behalf of those whom the pestilence had afflicted, were unceasing. Notwithstanding his many public duties, his energy and activity were fully equal to everything he undertook; for besides the cares devolving upon him from his official station, and from the exercise of a philanthropy, most public spirited, yet most unobtrusive, he was at the head of several incorporations having for their object the advancement of the business of the city, and was otherwise connected in various ways with numerous public defendants. Counsel for plaintiff, Toucey and T. C. Perkins; for defendants Ellsworth and Hugerford.-Hartford Courant. Stockholders in the Banks of Ohio. is found in the hands of brokers, bankers, or other money Let us examine who are the owners of bank stock. If it dealers, it is conclusive that it is very profitable, otherwise not. Commercial Bank of Cincinnati; Franklin Bank, Cincin- To females... Aged persons retired from business .$ 515,524 1,954,720 632,547 Savings' Institutions.... 226,500 Clergymen and physicians.. 140,550 County funds... 132,410 Mechanics, farmers, traders and mer chants..... 2,421,837 297,029 141,671 118,714 8,000 $6,599,602 The railroad from the port to the mine is in rapid progress toward completion. As the bed is believed to be very extensive, the enterprising proprietors anticipate handsome profits on their outlay whenever the West India steamers shall regularly call at Havana for a supply of fuel. Insurance and other corporations Lawyers.... Officers of banks. Brokers.... [Cincinnati Gazette. or in order to close the land system in such State at a convenient point, under the provisions of the act on that subject, approved twelfth June, one thousand eight hundred and forty. 500,000 acres for purposes of internal improvements in States named in first section—with proviso respecting previous allotments-how and where lands are to be selected-and States hereafter admitted to have the same quantity. Sec. 8. And be it further enacted, That there shall be granted to each State specified in the first section of this act, five hundred thousand acres of land for purposes of internal improvement: Provided, That to each of the said States which has already received grants for said purposes there is hereby granted no more than a quantity of land which shall, together with the amount such State has already received as aforesaid, make five hundred thousand acres; the selections in all of the said States to be made within their limits respectively in such manner as the Legislatures thereof shall direct; and located in parcels, conformably to sectional divisions and sub-divisions, of not less than three hundred and twenty acres in one location, on any public land except such as is or may be reserved from sale by any law of Congress or proclamation of the President of the United States, which said locations may be made at any time after the lands of the United States in said States respectively shall have been surveyed, according to existing laws. And there shall be and hereby is granted to each new State that shall be hereafter admitted into the Union, upon such admission, so much land as, including such quantity as may have been granted to such State before its admission, and while under a Territorial Government, for purposes of internal improvement as aforesaid, shall make five hundred thousand acres of land, to be selected and located as aforesaid. United States the minimum price of such land, subject, however, to the following limitations and exceptions: No person shall be entitled to more than one pre-emptive right by vir tue of this act; no person who is the proprietor of three hunthe United States, and no person who shall quit or abandon dred and twenty acres of land in any State or Territory of his residence on his own land to reside on the public land in the same State or Territory, shall acquire any right of pre-emption under this act; no lands included in any reservation, by any treaty, law or proclamation of the President of the United States, or reserved for salines, or for other purposes; no lands reserved for the support of schools, nor the lands acquired by either of the two last treaties with the Miami tribe of Indians in the State of Indiana, or which may be acquired of the Wyandot tribe of Indians in the State of Ohio, or other Indian reservation to which the title has been or may be extinguished by the United States at any time during the operation of this act; no sections of land reserved to the United States alternate to other sections granted to any of the States for the construction of any canal, railroad, or other public improvement; no sections or fractions of sections included within the limits of any incorporated town; no portions of the public lands which have been selected as the site for a city or town; no parcel or lot of land actually settled and occupied for the purposes of trade and not agriculture; and no lands on which are situated any known salines or mines, shall be liable to entry under and by virtue of the provisions of this act. And so much of the proviso of the act of twenty-second of June, eighteen hundred and thirty-eight, or any order of the President of the United States, as directs certain reservations to be made in favor of certain claims under the treaty of Dancing Rabbit creek be, and the same is hereby, repealed: Provided, That such repeal shall not affect any title to any tract of land secured in virtue of said treaty. No lands granted to States to be sold at less than $1 25 more persons shall have settled on the same quarter section Sec. 11. And be it further enacted, That when two or unless otherwise ordered by Congress-nett proceeds to of land, the right of pre-emption shall be in him or her, who be faithfully applied to certain objects by the States-made the first settlement, provided such persons shall conmails and troops to pass without toll on roads, canals, &c. Sec. 9. And be it further enacted, That the lands therein granted to the States above named shall not be disposed of at a price less than one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre, until otherwise authorized by a law of the United States; and the nett proceeds of the sales of said lands shall be faithfully applied to objects of internal improvement within the States aforesaid respectively, namely: Roads, railways, bridges, canals and improvement of water-courses, and draining of swamps; and such roads, railways, canals, bridges and water-courses, when made or improved, shall be free for the transportation of the United States mail, and munitions of war, and for the passage of their troops, without the payment of any toll whatever. Right of pre-emption in favor of actual settlers being citizens or foreigners, who have declared their intention in certain cases-proof how to be made-fees to register and receiver-oath to be taken that applicant is not excluded from any of the provisions of this act. Sec. 10. And be it further enacted, That from and after the passage of this act every person, being the head of a family, or widow, or single man, over the age of twenty-one years, and being a citizen of the United States, or having filed his declaration of intention to become a citizen, as required by the naturalization laws, who, since the first day of June, A. D. eighteen hundred and forty, has made, or shall hereafter make a settlement in person on the public lands to which the Indian title had been, at the time of such settlement, extinguished, and which has been, or shall have been surveyed prior thereto, and who shall inhabit and improve the same, and who has or shall erect a dwelling thereon, shall be, and is hereby, authorized to enter with the register of the land office for the district in which such land may lie, by legal sub-divisions, any number of acres not exceeding one hundred and sixty, or a quarter section of land, to include the residence of such claimant, upon paying to the form to the other provisions of this act; and all questions as to the right of pre-emption arising between different settlers shall be settled by the register and receiver of the district within which the land is situated, subject to an appeal to and a revision by the Secretary of the Treasury of the United States. Sec. 12. And be it further enacted, That prior to any entries being made under and by virtue of the provisions of this act, proof of the settlement and improvement thereby required shall be made to the satisfaction of the register and receiver of the land district in which such lands may lie, agreeably to such rules as shall be prescribed by the Secretary of the Treasury, who shall each be entitled to receive fifty cents from each applicant for his services to be rendered as aforesaid; and all assignments and transfers of the right hereby secured prior to the issuing of the patent shall be null and void. Sec. 13. And be it further enacted, That before any person claiming the benefit of this act shall be allowed to enter such lands, he or she shall make oath before the receiver or register of the land district in which the land is situated (who are hereby authorized to administer the same) that he or she has never had the benefit of any right of pre-emption under this act; that he or she is not the owner of three hundred and twenty acres of land in any State or Territory of the United States, nor hath he or she settled upon and improved said land to sell the same on speculation, but in good faith to appropriate it to his or her own exclusive use or benefit; and that he or she has not, directly or indirectly, made any agreement or contract, in any way or manner, with any person or persons whatsoever, by which the title which he or she might acquire from the Government of the United States should enure, in whole or in part, to the benefit of any person except himself or herself; and if any person taking such oath shall swear falsely in the premises, he or she shall be subject to all the pains and penalties of perjury, and shall forfeit the money which he or she may have paid for said land, and all right and title to the same; and any grant or conveyance which he or she may have made, except in the on an equal footing with the original States," for making of hands of bona fide purchasers, for a valuable consideration, a road or roads leading to the said State, be, and the same is hereby, relinquished to the said State of Alabama, payable shall be null and void. And it shall be the duty of the offin two equal instalments, the first to be paid on the first day cer administering such oath to file a certificate thereof in the public land office of such district, and to transmit a duplicate copy to the General Land Office, either of which shall be good and sufficient evidence that such oath was administer ed according to law. Sales already announced not to be postponed by this act. Sec. 14. And be it further enacted, That this act shall not delay the sale of any of the public lands of the United States beyond the time which has been, or may be, appointed by the proclamation of the President, nor shall the provisions of this act be available to any person or persons who shall fail to make the proof and payment, and file the affidavit required before the day appointed for the commencement of the sales as aforesaid. Notice of intention of purchase by settlers. Sec. 15. And be it further enacted, That whenever any person has settled or shall settle and improve a tract of land, subject at the time of settlement to private entry, and shall intend to purchase the same under the provisions of this act, such person shall in the first case, within three months after the passage of the same, and in the last within thirty days next after the date of such settlement, file with the register of the proper district a written statement describing the land settled upon, and declaring the intention of such person to claim the same under the provisions of this act; and shall, where such settlement is already made, within twelve months after the passage of this act, and where it shall hereafter be made, within the same period after the date of such settle ment, make the proof, affidavit, and payment herein required; and if he or she shall fail to file such written statement as aforesaid, or shall fail to make such affidavit, proof, and payment within the twelve months aforesaid, the tract of land so settled and improved shall be subject to the entry of any other purchaser. Relinquishment of 2 per cent. on lands sold or to be sold in Mississippi, on certain conditions. Sec. 16. And be it further enacted, That the two per cent. of the nett proceeds of the lands sold, or that may hereafter be sold by the United States in the State of Mississippi, since the first day of December, one thousand eight hundred and seventeen, and by the act entitled "An act to enable the People of the western part of the Mississippi Territory to form a Constitution and State Government, and for the admission of such State into the Union on an equal footing with the original States," and all acts supplemental thereto, reserved for the making of a road or roads leading to said State, be, and the same is hereby, relinquished to the State of Mississippi, payable in two equal instalments; the first to be paid on the first of May, one thousand eight hundred and forty-two, and the other on the first of May, one thousand eight hundred and forty-three, so far as the same may then have accrued, and quarterly, as the same may accrue after said period: Provided, That the Legislature of said State shall pass an act, declaring their acceptance of said relinquishment in full of said fund, accrued and accruing, and also embracing a provision, to be unalterable without the consent of Congress, that the whole of said two per cent. fund shall be faithfully applied to the construction of a railroad, leading from Brandon, in the State of Mississippi, to the eastern boundary of said State, in the direction, as near as may be, of the towns of Selma, Cahaba and Montgomery, in the State of Alabama. The same in Alabama. Sec. 17. And be it further enacted, That the two per cent. of the nett proceeds of the lands sold by the United States, in the State of Alabama, since the first day of September, one thousand eight hundred and nineteen, and reserved by the act entitled "An act to enable the People of the Alabama Territory to form a Constitution and State Government, and for the admission of such State into the Union of May, one thousand eight hundred and forty-two, and the other on the first day of May, one thousand eight hundred and forty-three, so far as the same has accrued, and quarterly, as the same may hereafter accrue: Provided, That the Legislature of said State shall first pass an act declaring their acceptance of said relinquishment, and also embracing a provision, to be unalterable without the consent of Congress, that the whole of said two per cent. fund shall be faithfully applied, under the direction of the Legislature of Alabama, to the connexion, by some means of internal improvement, of the navigable waters of the bay of Mobile with the Tennessee river, and to the construction of a continuous line of internal improvements from a point on the Chattahooche river, opposite West Point, in Georgia, across the State of Alabama, in a direction to Jackson, in the State of Mississippi. JOHN WHITE, The Rochester Democrat states that Mr. Elijah Shaw, aged 70 years, who fought the battles of his country against three nations, is now in the poor house within two miles of Rochester. He was on board the Constellation when she captured the French frigate L'Insurgent in 1800. In 1803 he was on board of the frigate Philadelphia, at the time of months imprisonment. He was on board the frigate United her capture off the harbor of Tripoli, and suffered nine States when she captured the Macedonian, and the President, at the time of her capture by a British squadron. After the peace, he sailed under Commodore Decatur up the Mediterranean, to chastise the Barbary powers. This being done, he sailed with Commodore Porter in the squadron that so effectually destroyed a gang of lawless pirates. Licensing and Retailing in Old Times. It will be seen by the following votes of the Legislature of this State, passed in the year 1654, and which we have copied from the records now in the office of the Secretary of State, that the business of selling ardent spirits was very early made a matter of legislation by our forefathers--and it is believed that no one was found at that time having sufficient hardihood to doubt the propriety of the law, to ques tion its constitutionality, or refuse obedience to its provisions.-Hartford Courant. It is ordered by this Court, That it shall not be lawful for any person whatsoever within these liberties, directly or indirectly to sell, lend, barter or give to any Indian whatsoever, small or great, one or other, any wine, liquors, beer, cider or metheglin, or any sort or kind whatsoever, except it be their ordinary household beer, for which they shall have no recompense-upon the former, penalty of £5 for every pint, and 40 shillings for the least quantity. It is further ordered by this Court, That it shall not be lawful for any persons whatsover to draw any wine, strong by retail to any person whatsoever, except such persons in water of any sort or kind, strong beer or cider, and sell it out each town as are licensed so to do from the Court. The average amount of property destroyed by fire in New Haven for the last twelve years, is only $2,477. Population, 15,000. 168 Pennsylvania and New York. From the year 1790 until 1830 every Census exhibited the Congressional representation of New York increasing in the proportion which it bore to that of Pennsylvania, owing to the more rapid increase of population, as shown in the following tables: Pennsylvania. Increase, Trade of the United States with Great Britain. But few persons, not familiar with the subject, are aware of the immense amount of trade which is every year carried on between this country and Great Britain—and which is clearly exhibited in the following table, which also shows that this country takes from Great Britain in manufactures, on an average of years, the whole value of the produce exported to that country. YEARS. 434,000 602,000 38 per ct. 810,000 34 1,049,000 29 1,918,000 1,348,000 23 From this we see that while in 1790 Pennsylvania exceeded N. Y. nearly 160,000; in 1830, the latter exceeded the former nearly 600,000, and from its great population and rapid progress assumed the title of the Empire State. The recent Census furnishes us with the gratifying fact that the tables have turned, and that the rate of increase of Pennsylvania in the last ten years exceeds that of New York, as is here shown: Pennsylvania. Increase. 1,724,000 28 pr. The growth of Pennsylvania from 1820 to 1830 was 323,000, whereas from 1830 to 1840 it has been 376,000 showing an increase of 53,000, whereas that of New York has fallen from 546,000 to 510,000. Value (in Dollars) of ..26,329,352...... ..... Number. 884 .32,363,450. .44,212,097. .52,180,977. ..57,875,213. ..54,683,797. .52,176,610. .59,896,212. ...... [Boston Mercantile Journal. ct. British Spanish $7,000,000 Dutch Belgian French Hamburg Bremen Danish Others 278,432 Throughout the world the land first occupied is that which yields food most readily in return to labor, while that which yields coal and iron is always avoided, because of its comparative sterility. The South of England was in former times the seat of empire, but with the growth of population and of capital, it has gradually passed to the North, and the Reform Bill deprived numerous towns and boroughs in the South of their representation, because of their decayed condition, for the purpose of transferring it to those of the North, which had sprung up in and near that great coal region. So long as it was not necessary to pass the mountains, Pennsylvania grew more rapidly than New York, but when the Eastern counties became tolerably settled, the superior advantages of 1653 New York for cultivation attracted emigration thither, and her numbers increased with great rapidity. With the growth of the population and capital of Pennsylvania numerous canals and railroads have enabled her citizens to bring into activity her great mineral resources, and a counter-action has commenced. The ratio of her increase is now greater than that of any Atlantic State except Georgia, and we think we hazard little in asserting that the next, probably all future censuses will show a higher ratio of increase than will be shown by any Atlantic State whatever. No State in the Union possesses the same amount of mineral wealth-none can yield larger returns to labor and capital. We have wasted a large amount of both in the construction of roads and canals, some of which are useless, and all of which have cost far more than they should have done: but great as is the amount of debt that has thus been fastened upon us, we are strongly disposed to believe, that if proper economy be used in future, the public faith may be maintained, while the taxation will bear to the amount of production almost as small a proportion as in any State of the Union. Common sense and common honesty will carry us through triumphantly, and a few years hence we shall all look back with a feeling of surprise that any doubt could have been entertained of either the ability or the disposition of this State to pay both principal and interest of a debt amounting to about one-eighth of the yearly revenue of the French Government-a revenue contributed by a people, nearly three-fourths of whom are compelled to live upon six cents a day. We shall all then be disposed to believe that, although the advantageous situation of New York has, up to this time enabled her to take the lead in the Union, Pennsylvania must ultimately contain the largest population and be the wealthiest State-and we hope our successors at some future time may be able to add-the most enlightened State in the Union.-National Gazette. OBITUARY. [Public Ledger. On the 1st inst. near Georgetown, the venerable JOSEPH NoURSE, in the 88th year of his age. The name of Joseph Nourse is familiar to us all, and has been justly associated with that of Charles Thompson in the minds and memories of those who lived and served during the trying period of the Revolution. Mr. N. was born in London in the year 1754; he emigrated with his father's family to this country in 1769, and settled in the lower part of Virginia. In 1776, he entered the Army, and served in it and in different departments connected with it until the close of the war; from which time he continued in the civil department of the Government until its re-organization in 1789, when he was appointed by General Washington to the office of Register of the Treasury, in which he afforded great assistance to Secretary Hamilton in arranging the details of his system of revenue and finance. In this office Mr. N. was continued, giving by his faithful and laborious services the most entire satisfaction to every administration of the Government, until 1829. |