P. S. This Instrument is referr'd to your Honour's wisdom, for the communication of the contents thereof, only to the Commander in Chief, and to each of the said three Councillors, so far as may concern either of them. But to be conceal'd prudently from every other living person. Which gratuity, if either of them decline from acceptance thereof in my favour; And nevertheless concurr in the full judgment of my honest case: Then the said sum respectively is hereby transferr'd to your Honour's propriety, for recompencing your late favour to me, and in such a meas ure towards recompencing your loss by fire. As assigned by the said Appellant. HUGH ADAMS.

The First Church in Plymouth. In the formation of the first church in Plymouth, which was the first in New-Eng land, a constitution was adopted, called the covenant. This instrument was very simple in its design and language, expressing their obligations and renewed engagements to their Maker and to each other. New members acknowledged the Covenant, and promised to act in conformity to all the requirements of the gospel. Such was the practice of the Plymouth church for 175 years. In 1795, Rev. Dr. Robbins, then pastor, in concurrence with the church, introdu ced a creed, which has been in use till the present year. In July, at a church meeting, it was voted nem. con. to make no farther use of the creed, but to adhere to their first love. Old Colony Memorial.

In Sept. 1798, a malignant fever prevailed at Portsmouth; 53 died, and 41 recovered of those who were attacked by it. During the same time, 52 died of various other disorders. This season a most destroying fever prevailed in Philadelphia and New-York, hundreds dying in a week. Deaths in Philadelphia, Aug. 8 to Oct. 3, 2773; whole number in 1798-3146! In 1793, during the same time, there died of the yellow fever in that city, 1847; whole number in 1793, 3952. In this year, about 1-4th of the inhabitants removed; while in 1798, nearly 7-8ths abandoned the city. A meeting-house in Boscawen was burnt Feb. 7, 1798, by an incendiary.

The brick market-house at Portsmouth, was built in 1800. A violent tornado passed over Reading, Ms. in June, 1800, demolishing houses, barns, &c. but fortunately no lives were

lost.

FOR THE HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS.

LONGEVITY.

Of all the complaints made by man, against the order of nature and the constitution of the world, there are but few that have been more general than those respecting the brev ity of human life. In all ages of the world, except the antedeluvian, of which we know little, men have exclaimed that their days have been few and evil. Though they have discovered strong attachments to life, and much anxiety to prolong it, they have neglected the means requisite to attain the object. Of the vast number of books annually printed, more have been written for the purpose of teaching the art to destroy, than to preserve life. It is a subject of regret, that we are not better furnished with more of the biography of those who have lived to extreme old age, particularly in relation to their parentage, diet, regimen, exercise and occupation. A work of this kind, well executed and extending to the great variety of cases which have occurred, would enable us to ascertain the principal causes which have contributed to long life.

In the course of my reading for several years, I have noted the name, residence, and age of old persons who have died in the United States. My list as to the number is incomplete, and for want of information will always remain so. It includes only those who were ninety years of age and upwards; the whole number is 2080, one of whom lived to the advanced age of 150 years. Of this number,1023 were men, and 1057 women. The smallest number died in the months of May, June and August, but the greatest number in January, February and March-in January nearly four times as many as in June.

I do not possess a sufficient number of facts to state with precision the various causes which promote or retard longevity. I will, however, express some facts and my opinion upon some of them, and leave the subject to those whose profession and business is more intimately connected with it.

Long life does not depend upon any particular climate or region of the globe, though some are more favorable to it than others. The human constitution is adapted to all climates; and instances of longevity have occurred in every country where men have lived. In this respect man is un

like some other species of animals, who can live only in particular latitudes.

Men usually live longer in the country than the city. The air, exercise and modes of living in the country are better suited to their nature, than in cities crowded with a dense population. Of the instances of longevity which I have met with, particularly those who have lived more than a century, a large majority of them removed from the place of their nativity and lived in other places.

Longevity is in a great measure hereditary. Healthy, long-lived parents would, I think, usually transmit long life to their children, if they would avoid gross errors. To this rule there are but very few exceptions; and I could cite numerous cases in support of it. I will mention only two that have occurred within my own knowledge. The one is that of a man who had twelve children by one wife: the ages of all his children, though one of them is still living, averages more than seventy-three years. The other is a family of seven children, one of whom is also alive, whose average age exceeds eighty years. But as to the children of unhealthy parents, I have known three successive generations descended from one family, whose average age was less than thirty-four years.

Early rising contributes much to long life; many of those who lived long practised it, and found the morning air invigorating and healthy. Early rising not only tends to protract the number of our years, but it increases the length of each for every hour we sleep more than is necessary is so much time deducted from the year, and, in fact, is worse than lost.

Labor and exercise have a natural tendency to prolong human life. Man was formed for action; and much of his happiness consists in performing it. He who is inured to robust exercise and the inclemency of the seasons, imparts vigor and health to his constitution. It is in this class of people that by far the greatest number of aged people are found. Few men who spend their time in ease and indolence live to old age, whilst many who perform much labor, bear great fatigue, and suffer many hardships and deprivations, live long; but severe fatigue in early life too often subjects man to premature disease and death.

The ills of poverty are less fatal to human life than the dainties and luxury of wealth. There are more of the poor than of the rich, in proportion to their respective numbers, who live to be old.

Temperance has a natural and powerful tendency to pro

long the life of man. An immoderate use of ardent and vinous liquors extinguishes life; but small potions of it ta ken at particular times and seasons is a cordial, which imparts new life and vigor to the system. Early intemperance usually terminates in death before the man is fifty; and, indeed, excessive pleasures of every kind in early life are peculiarly fatal. Hard-drinkers, though they commence the practice in middle-life seldom attain old age; the few instances, that have existed to the contrary, but serve to prove the truth of the remark.

Temperance in diet and regimen is necessary to preserve long life. Plain, homely repasts, ate only when appetite or hunger dictates, are vastly preferable to all others. I have known gluttons exclaim with horror and indignation against drunkards and tipplers; and yet gluttony is as fatal to life as incbriety. The victims of gluttony are more numerous than people imagine; and it is an evil which those who wish for long life should studiously avoid. Gluttons live for the sakǝ of eating-and their belly is their God."

An easy, mild, and quiet temper prolongs life; but a peevish, fretful, and irritable disposition destroys it. Many who have exceeded the usual term of human life, were remarkable for the mildness of their temper.

Men of all professions, and of most, though not all occupations, have lived long. The neglect of exercise is, perhaps, the greatest error which sedentary persons commit. It should be an object with them not only to increase their exercise, but to devise such as will directly promote their own interest and that of others. They would then have more than one motive to perform it, and of course would do it more effectually. Those whose time is devoted to labor upon lead, tin, and some other minerals are of all occupations engaged in that the most unfavorable to health and long life.

Of literary and professional men, merchants, manufacturers, and mechanics, there appear to be fewer, in proportion to their relative numbers, who have attained longevity, than of the other classes in society.

For most of the diseases to which human nature is incident, the herbs and roots of our country afford a safer and more efficient remedy, than the drugs of the apothecary. Many of those who lived longest were least acquainted with physicians; nature and time, good nursing and attention, relieved them from their complaints. But those who convert their bodies into medicine chests, seldom enjoy health, or live to old age. CINCINNATUS.

July 18, 1823.

Literary Notices.

SOLOMON SOUTHWICK, Esq. of Albany, proposes to publish a poem to be entitled "The Pleasures of Poverty," the price not to exceed 50 cents. Mr. S. has long been known as a writer of considerable merit; and we hope he will receive extensive patronage. The poor should subscribe, for present comfort; and the rich also, for they know not how soon they may want some consolation of the kind.

UNITED STATES LAW JOURNAL AND CIVILIAN'S MAGAZINE. The fourth No. of this valuable miscellany is just received; and contains among other things a review of the first volume of N. H. Reports. The review is quite favorable to the work, and the principal fault to be discovered, is similar to that urged by the writer against some cases in the Reports, that is—it is too long-occupying no less than 26 close pages. The reviewer says

"With the exception of being now and then a little too long, the cases contained in the volume before us, are well reported; the statements of facts are clear and concise; the arguments of counsel are sparingly given, and the opinions of the judges contain a great deal of good sense, and strong reasoning; and what especially recommends them to us, they are wholly free from all affectation and parade of learning. The judges of New-Hampshire appear to be straight forward business men, and are contented with the possession of knowledge, without idly and ostentatiously displaying it, upon occasions which do not call for it, and where it can be of no possible use.”

The reviewer then proceeds to point out the few errors he conceives to be embraced in the work; though he cordially assents to most of the doctrines laid down by the court. These are contained in the cases Thompson vs. Ward, and Peirce et al. vs. Rowe: the reviewer thinks the former would not be good law in England; and this is admitted by the court. But Judge Bell founds the correctness of his opinion upon former practice and immemorial usage in this State. Of the latter, the reviewer holds that compound interest is not legal, though contracted for. That case, if we understand it, does not decide the contrary-though few doubt it might well have done so. These errors, then, are