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BOOKS may be classed according to the faculties of the mind employed on them: these are— III. IMAGINATION.

I. MEMORY.

II. REASON.

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CHARACTERISTIC TRAITS.

plain, in the capture of 1 frigate, 1 brig, and 2

Modesty is the usual associate of genuine brav-sloops of war of the enemy." The expression of

ery. It is the concomitant of every species of excellence, and gives a charm to its possessor that fascinates while it excites our admiration. The man who unites to powers of mind that approximate him to deity, all the modesty and humbleness of a child, affords a spectacle that we delight to contemplate, and that we love to behold. It is like the model of beauty shrinking from the gaze of the beholder, and veiling her resistless charms under the garb of humble and lowly indigence. We have been led to these reflections by the perusal of the official communications of our military and naval commanders during the late war. "We have met the enemy, and they are ours," said the gallant Perry, when he vanquished the enemy's fleet on lake Erie. "It has pleased the Almighty to give to the arms of the United States a signal victory over their enemies on this lake." What can be more modest or more

Cæsar, veni vidi vici, has often been extolled for its brevity and compass, but it bears no competition with the communication of Perry or M'Donough. They had obtained signal victories over an enemy who had enjoyed the complete command of the ocean for many years, and who had acquired a character of invincibility that no one had presumed to question. The merit was unquestionably very great; and yet these gallant men ascribe all the merit to that Being, who rides on the whirlwind and directs the storm, and assume but a subordinate share of the glory to which they were entitled by their bravery, their patriotism, and their skill. This unassuming modesty enhances their glory, and we unhesitatingly grant them every praise it is in our power to bestow. In all the official communications of our meritorious naval and military commanders, when a detail could not be given with convenience, the same laconic brevity, and the same modesty are observed when communicating the victorious re

sult of a battle. This characteristic trait must be

gratifying to the American feeling, and add lustre to the reputation of American bravery in the estimation of the nations of Europe.

BRITISH DESIGNS.

Spartan than this. Hitherto our gallant tars had vanquished British vessels in single combat--had vanquished those vessels that the British nation boasted of as being invincible, and as having repeatedly come off victorious over the maritime nations of Europe. The loss of single ships had easily been accounted for by the mortified pride of British writers; and our success was ascribed to a vast superiority of force, under the disguise The editor of the London Messenger seems to of frigates. A contest between fleets was a novel think that a war between this country and Great event, and the most sanguine anticipations of vic- Britain is not very remote, and that, preparatory tory were entertained on the part of the British to such an event, the British government are innation. They had ceased to exult at the capture creasing their naval and military force on the Caand destruction of single vessels. This was an nadian frontier. We doubt not this information event so confidently anticipated, that it excited || is correct; the latter, at least, we know to be so; no emotion, and was barely recorded in their and we cannot conceive why all this formidable naval chronicle as a common occurrence. But and expensive preparation should be made if a the capture of fleets was a circumstance that exwar was not ultimately expected. It shows the cited their enthusiasm, and drew forth their eu- necessity of adopting those precautions we suglogies. They conferred nobility on the fortunategested in a former number of the Register, and admiral who obtained success, and every honour the propriety of keeping time with them in our a grateful nation could bestow was granted. Nel-preparations for such an event. We lament to son, decidedly the best officer England has pro- discover so much supineness and indifference in duced, in the whole course of his naval achiev-the American government on a subject of so much ments, never conquered an entire fleet, and al- importance. Preparation could do no injury, and ways engaged with a superior force. It was left might be of essential benefit. In the event of for the American officers to wrest the well-earned another war, we would be prepared to meet the laurels from the brow of the mistress of the deep shock, and not be, as we were at the commence-to encounter fleets superior in force, and to ment of the last war, exposed, defenceless, and come off completely victorious. Yet with a con- wholly disqualified for even defensive operations. sciousness of all this merit, the modest and gal-That it may be the intention of the British golant Perry and M'Donnough, with laconic brevi-vernment to attack us when we are not dreaming ty, only observe, "we have met the enemy, and of such an event, is, we think, within the com. they are ours"-and "the Almighty has been pass of probability; and it is the policy of a napleased to grant us a signal victory on lake Cham- tion to be guarded against probable misfortunes..

To slumber in imaginary security is an evidence ish marauders to respect our flag; and when they of imbecility; and to calculate too much on phy-next meet with an American vessel, I presume sical strength is equally absurd, particularly when, they will not be quite so solicitous to insult its by proper precaution, that strength can be as-officers.

sisted by the aid of art.

We hope our government will pay proper attention to this subject, and make arrangements for keeping pace with our neighbours in naval and military preparation.

Communicated.

SPANISH OUTRAGE.

Spain, under her present mad ruler, is pursuing a course that must eventually result in her disgrace and ruin. I cannot perceive what object she can have in exciting the indignation and || vengeance of a nation that is unwilling to be embroiled in contentions with foreign powers, and whose policy it ever has been to be in harmony and peace with the world. Ferdinand can surely expect nothing from this country that will redound to his advantage or add to his reputation; and if he had the wisdom of a mouse, he would see that wantonly to aggravate and insult is not the best mode to accomplish any object he might have in view. Perhaps there already exists in the United States too great an excitement against him; and deliberately to increase it, as he has recently done, is the very acme of stupidity and folly. Destitute, as he seems to be, of wisdom, he must be destitute of common prudence, and he will blunder on till insulted humanity whirls him from his throne, amid the exultations of the world.

What but the most consummate madness could induce the ideot king of Spain to urge by insults this country into a war with him, I am at a loss to imagine. Can he not perceive that the aid of this country would in an instant turn the scale against him, and give freedom and independence to the eighth part of the globe-and to the richest and most beautiful section of his country Thousands and tens of thousands of American youths only wait the beck of their government to pounce at once upon the Spanish authorities in South-America, and carry victory and indepen dence wherever they move. Can he deliberately wish to hasten his ruin, or is he so very a madman as to be incapable of seeing his own interests? I should hope that his counsellors at least, if he have any, would admonish him of his error in time, and enable him to see the rashness and folly of his conduct, and wrest him and the nation from irretrievable disgrace.

For the National Register.
AGRICULTURAL.

Although the inspisated juice of the "Papava Somniferum Album" of Linnass possesses, in a high degree, a narcotic principle, which is usually extracted from the capsule that encloses the seed, and which, from its utility as a medicine, has justly been styled " Magnum Dei donum;" yet the seeds contained in this capsule, yield a bland oil, perfectly free from any narcotic quality, which may be used with the greatest safety for all domestic purposes, in the place of olive oil. For this purpose it has been cultivated in France, Brabant, Holland, and Great Britain, and the cakes, after expressing the oil, have been found a very nutritious article of diet for cattle. Two pounds of the seed, broad cast, are sufficient for one acre, in drills of a less proportion. The time of sewing, in England, is from the middle of March until the latter part of April. When the plants are two inches high, they must be weeded and thinned till they stand seven or eight inches high from each other; the weeding is to be repeated as often as it may be thought necessary. At the end of August, according as the season may have been more or less favourable, the seeds are ripe for gathering. In some places it is customary to draw the whole of the plants from the ground, and place them against each other in the manner wheat sheaves. In this situation they are permit

The Americans appreciate their liberties, their rights, and their national honour too highly tamely to be insulted by a nation so degraded as Spain. The affair of the Firebrand, which was cowardly attacked lately off Vera Cruz by three Spanish vessels, is of a nature that would have excited the indignant feelings of this country, if no cause had previously existed. The result may easily be anticipated, if Ferdinand does not deny that they were authorized to commit this outrage on the American flag. If the statement be correct, that these Dons declared they were authorized "to drive every American vessel from the Gulph of Mexico," a force should be immediately ordered to sweep the coast of these paltry reptiles, without waiting for negotiation. To the American tars it would be a matter of amusement. They would exult at an opportunity to grapple with such an enemy, and scare the noble Dons into the cock-pit by a single discharge of American thunder. I have reason to believe that measures have been taken to compel these Span- ted to remain in the field eight or ten days, until

of

from a New Orleans paper an anonymous letter, purporting to have been written by a gentleman who was on board of the Firebrand at the time the affair took place, and also the proceedings of a meeting of the citizens of N. Orleans. In doing

they are perfectly dry, when they are thrashed received before this, from Com. Patterson, the out. The most expeditious mode is to cut off commanding naval officer on the New Orleans the heads in the field, the reaper having an apron || station, but it not having arrived, we republish before him, tied up at the corners to receive them they are then put into sacks and bruised by a mallet or flail, and the seeds separated by means of a sieve. In extracting the oil, the mill and press ought to be perfectly clear and the bags new, that no disagreeable flavour may be communicated to the oil. The sooner it is extracted after the harvest the better. The first oil is destined for family use; this must be cold drawn; any degree of heat beyond the common temperature of the atmosphere, injures the flavour. A considerable quantity of oil may afterwards be express-correspondence we are led to believe there are ed from the cakes by increasing the heat.

this we will venture to recommend to our readers" to suspend their opinion until official information be received. The letter from the Bay of St. Louis is evidently intended to place the Spaniards intirely in the wrong, and bears strong marks of not having told the whole truth. From private

some qualifying circumstances which, when known, will palliate in some considerable degree, the atrocity of this outrage. If it should appear that our citizens were carrying on a trade contrary to the municipal regulations of Spain, and that this trade consisted in arms and munitions of war, and of course contraband-that the Firebrand was in company with a vessel loaded with these articles, destined for the insurgents in a Mexican province, and that our armed schooner might have easily been mistaken for a Carthage

The expressed oil must remain five or six weeks before it is used, that a milky substance, which is combined with it, may be deposited: it may then be poured into another vessel, which should be covered with a linen cloth, or bladder having holes pricked in it. It improves by keeping. The oil which is first expressed is of a pale colour, peculiarly bland, and has a flavour approaching to that of almonds. It is used for sallads and other domestic purposes, either alone or mixed with olive oil. Should the latter be rancid it will be im-nian armed vessel, notwithstanding the exhibition proved by a mixture of recent "poppy oil." The common oil, extracted from the cakes by the assistance of heat, may be used for lamps The oil cakes are equal to linseed for feeding and fattening cattle; they eat it with voracity. The stems of the plant are used for fodder, or mixed with dung for manuring land. Sandy soils are said to be the most proper for the cultivation of the Pa-dence. If this affair should prove to be a delibepaver, but if sewed on peat lands, trenches must be dug between the rows.

of her colours, we think it will alter the case ma terially. All the circumstances ought to be known to enable us to make up a correct opinion, and these cannot be had immediately. The affair will doubtless be fully investigated by the proper authorities, and that our government will act promptly and justly we have the fullest confi

rate and an unprovoked outrage on the part of the Spaniards, and if a prompt disavowal and satisfaction be not made, but one course will remain to

It is reported that the Blue Poppy will yield the greatest quantity of oil. Sandy ground yield-be pursued with honor, and in this the governed 13 sacks; peat land 12 sacks. ment and people will unquestionably coincide.

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two last mentioned vessels were refused to be given us.

insurgents and pirates (as they termed the Mexican republicans) and the United States. Among other insults, equally justifiable, he accused the Boxer, of robbing a Spanish vessel, and of being a pirate. The Spanish lieutenant was then hailed, and proceeded to the Diana, and soon returned with a party of marines, and took possession of the Firebrand, stating that we were to go to Vera Cruz, and if the governor found it all right, he would pay the expense of our detention--a real Spanish sentiment, dollars a salvo for wounded honor and outraged feelings. Our vessel was searched, and being prisoners, the signals, &c. were sunk. The Spanish lieutenant was again hailed, and proceeded to the Diana, and shortly after we were gratified by the return of our commander, lieutenant Campbell, and gig's crew.

Captain Cunningham when he entered on board of the Diana offered his sword as a prisoner, which was refused, and he was told that he must follow the Spaniards to Vera Cruz, which he indignantly rejected; his reply was, that as they had so vastly a superior force, they might take him where they chose, but that he would follow no vessel, and that he should represent the whole transac tion to his government.-A scene of vulgarity, confusion and abuse passed on board of the Diana, that would disgrace an American cabin boy.

There were not less than five hundred men on board of the two first mentioned vessels, as be-brave and respectable captain Porter, of the brig sides their crews they had many soldiers. The || Le Gera appeared to be in chase of another vessel. The Diana and Cassidor made for us, captain Cunningham at the same time approaching them. As we approached within pistol shot, one of the Spa- | niards on each side of us, at the very moment that our Hag was hoisted, the Cassidor, without hailing or without any ceremony, fired some of her cannon loaded with grape and cannister into us, and a volley of musketry. Capt. Cunningham immediately leaped on a gun, and hailed, stating who we were, and demanded the cause of their firing. The firing continued, intermingled with the most vulgar and billingsgate abuse. I observed a single musket aimed from the quarter deck of the Cassidor, and evidently intended for captain Cunningham, who was conspicuous by his elevation on the gun, and his epaulet; but which fortunately by a few inches missed him, and entered the breast of a marine, and lodged in his neck. We were ordered to send a boat on board; captain Cunningham said he would not send, but he would receive a boat. We were then ordered by the Diana to send a boat on board, and lower our mainsail, with a threat that in case of refusal they would sink us. Captain Cunningham ordered Lieut. A. S. Campbell to proceed on board the Diana, where his side arms were taken from him, and he was placed under a guard of marines, the gig's crew were put in irons, threatened to be hung, and beat with swords, the marks of which are yet evident. || Shortly after a lieutenant came on board of the Firebrand, and while conversing with captain Cunningham in his cabin, he was hailed from the Cassidor, and requested to get out of danger as they intended to fire into us, board and show no quarters he replied that we were an Americanthe reply from the Cassidor was, that we were Scoundreis and liars; and again was poured upon us every epithet of abuse that cowardice or vulgarity could suggest, and a single musket shot was fired.

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It is owing to the firmness of captain Cunningham that we have been enabled to reach our own shores, and that I have this opportunity to address you. For I am firmly convinced that no different treatment would have been measured to a noncombatant, than was inflicted on our sailors, fetters & lashes. The official statement of the outrage to American citizens, and our national flag, has, I presume, before this been transmitted to WashingAnd it is impossible to doubt that a just and high ninded government will immediately take measures to redress her violated rights, and afford to a meritorious officer an opportunity of effacing from the Star Sprangled Banner, the cowardly insult, and ruffian outrage inflicted upon

ton.

it.

The American navy has shed too much of its precious blood to give to our name a renown, and our glory a splendor which will be lasting and brilliant; it is too great a favorite with the American people, not at once to point to the cabinet the only means of wiping from its standard, a blot, with which cowards, backed by a vastly superior force, have attempted to stain it. To me, who saw ail that passed, there is not a doubt that the Spaniards, by their outrage, and vulgar abuse, wishto provoke us to some act of hostility, that would afford them a pretext for our indiscriminate butchery.

At this time captain Cunningham committed the only act which in my opinion was not strictly correct, it was the result of his feelings, not his judgment, soured and irritated by the conduct of cowardly assassins, he exclaimed, opening his bosom and springing on a gun "fire at me, but not at my men The Spanish boat's crew, that brought the Spanish Lieutenant on board of us. when they heard the last threat, leaped over board, well knowing their own nation, and convinceded that the ocean presented more probable ch..nces of escape than our deck. The Spanish lieutenant was then hailed from the Diana, and he ordered They stood ready to discharge from two large Captain Cunningham to proceed to the Diana; be- vessels, 42 heavy guns, against a small vessel of fore he went he ordered the colours down, which eight guns. They fired without hailing, they conthe Spanish lieutenant would not permit to be done. inued their fire after they ascertained who we The Spanish lieutenant mentioned while on board were, they fired once after our heutenant was on of us, that we had no right to navigate the Gulph board their vessel, they abused us by every vul of Mexico, that the Spanish king claimed its ex- gar epithet, they imprisoned our officer and flogclusive sovereignty, that we could have no com-ged our men, they made disgraceful propositions merce there to protect, that a new governor geneP. had arrived at Vera Cruz, who had ordered ou ll the vessels to scour the coast, that the w ole cost was in a st te of blockade, that their orders were to respect the flag of no nation, that to them there was no difference between the flag of the

to us, they deliberately aimed at our commander, searched our vessel and stigmatised the worthy Porter as a pirate.

And, sir, with me, after this recital, you will be compelled to believe that they intended to sacrifice us to their dastardly and ignoble passion

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