USA > Ohio > Hamilton County > Cincinnati > The Cincinnati miscellany, or, Antiquities of the West, and pioneer history and general and local statistics, Volume I > Part 5
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The next morning the officer of the guard came to me and said, 'Gen. Washington has commanded me to notify you to appear at his quarters precisely at 9 o'clock.'
'What does he want of me?'
'I don't know,' replied the officer.
In obedience to his order, I went to his quar- ters at the time appointed; but my mind was greatly harrassed to know whether I had dis- charged my duty aright the night previous. I gave the alarm at the door and a servant ap- peared.
'Inform Gen. Washington,' said I, 'that the person whom he ordered to his quarters at 9 o'- clock, is now at the door.'
The servant made the report, and immediate- ly came and bade me come in, and conducted me to the General's room. When I entered he addressed me-
'Are you the sentinel who stood at my door at 10 o'clock, last night ?'
'Yes, sir, and I endeavored to do my duty.'
'I wish all the army understood it as well as you do,' said the General. This relieved the burden on my mind.
The General then continued, 'Can you keep a secret ?'
'I can try.'
"Are you willing to have your name struck from the roll of the army, and engage in a se- cret service at the hazard of your life, for which I promise you forty dollars a month ?'
I am willing to serve my country in any way you may think best.'
and I will give you further instructions.'
And when I had ascended to the height, I must look round carefully, and if I discovered any per- son I mus: keep at a distance from him and suf- fer no one to take me. If every thing appeared quiet, I must go to the west side of the plain, there I should see a flat rock which I could raise by one hand, and a round stone about four feet from it; I must take the round stone and place it under the edge of the flat rock, which would raise it high enough to put my hand under it. 'You must then feel under the rock," said the General, 'till you find a second hollow, if there is a letter in it, bring it to me, and put this in the same place.'
Having received my instructions, I made my way for the height, and nothing occurred wor- thy of note, except that I found the rock and the stone described, and in the hollow a letter, seal- ed without any superscription. I then adjusted the rock and placed the stone as I found it. I returned to the General's quarters, and delivered the letter I found under the rock. He then said-
"You may retire and appear at seven o'clock to-morrow evening.'
This I did for some time, carrying and bring- ing letters, without being annoyed in any re- spect.
At length I observed a person at some dis- tance traveling the same way I was going, and he eyed me with more attention than was pleas- ing to me. I took rather a circuitous route,and when I came on the height, I was confident I saw two persons, if not more, descend the hill on the opposite side among the savins. I went even to make the discovery, but could see no one. This I told the General on my return.
He upbraided me for my presumption. He said. 'they might have sprung on you and taken you. Nevar do the like again.'
When I teturned the next cvening, he gave me a stricter charge than before. There was nothing occurred till I ascended the height ; I then plainly saw three persons dodge behind the savins; I hesitated what to do. I placed my head to the ground to obtain a clearer view of the opposite side. In an insiant three men rush- ed from behind the savins on the other side in full run to take me. I rose and ran with all my speed. No Grecian in their celebrated games exerted themselves more than I did. I found one of the three was a near match for me. When I came to the sentinel, he was not more than six rods from me. I gave the coun- tersign without much ceremony. The sentinel then hailed my pursuer, who turned on eis heel and fled. I went to the General's quarters, and on presenting this letter, I said-
'Here is the letter you gave me,' and then re- lated the above story to him.
He told me I might retire and need not call on him again till he should give me notice. He strictly charged me when in company or in ments of friends or foes, never to enter into any dispute about the war or the army, but always be an inquirer.
"Call here precisely at 7 o'clock this evening | camp to make myself a stranger to the move-
In about a week the General sent for me, and I repaired to his quarters at the usual hour. He inquired if I was ever down on what was then called Cambridge Neck. I told him I had been there twice. He then handed me a letter as usual, and said-
I then retired, and precisely at 7 o'clock Irc- turned. The General presented me with a seal- ed letter without any superscription. He asked me if I had ever been on Roxbury Heights. I told him I had, and at his request I described the level ground on the top. He gave the counter- sign lest I should not be able to return before the sentinels received it; and on the way con- verse with no one, and if I should observe any 'Go to the lower house and enter the front person who appeared to notice me particularly, I door, and when you enter the room if there be
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more than one person present, sit down and jing to one measurement, 204, and by an- make yourself a stranger; when all have gone out of the room but one, then get up and walk across the room repeatedly ; after you have pas- sed and re-passed, he will take a letter out of his pocket and present it to you, and as he is doing this you must take this letter out of your pocket and present it to him. I charge you not to speak a word to him on the peril of your life. It is important you observe this.'
I went to the house, and on entering the room, I found but one man in it, and he was at the corner of the room. He rose at my enter- ing. I immediately commenced my travel across the room, and eyeing him attentively .- The third time I passed he put his hand into his pocket, took out a letter and extended it to- ward him. With his other he took hold of my letter, and I did the same with his. I then re- tired with a bow, and returned to the General. We two could well recognize each other,though we were not allowed to speak. This mnode of communication continued for some time.
One evening, as this man was presenting his letter he whispered so me,
'Tell Gen. Washington the British are coming out on the Neck to-morrow morning at two o'clock.'
When I delivered the letter to General Wash- ington, I addressed him thus:
'General, the person who delivered this letter to me whispered and said-
'Tell General Washington the British are com- ing out on the Neck to-morrow morning at two o'clock.'
The General started and inquired ,
"Was it the same person you received letters from before ?'
'Yes sir.'
He then broke the letter and read it, after which he asked,
"Did you speak to him ?'
·No sir.'
Then saying,Stop here until I return," he took his hat and cane and locked the door after him. He was gone nearly an hour and a half.
When he returned, he said, 'I do not know that that I shall need your services any more; you will continue about the encampment and I will allow you the same pay you now have.'
Having nothing to do, I had the curiosity to ramble about the army and vicinity to find the man who whispered to me, but I never saw hin. Whether that whisper was fatal to him I know not. The injunction on me was tantamount to it in case of disobedience. I continued with the army till they left Cambridge, when I was discharged.
Fire Engines.
In the last "Advertiser," I expressed a conviction that the fire engine Cincinnati, lately built by Mr. C. H. Paddack,in this ci- ty, would prove, on trial, of equal or supe- rior power and excellence to the "Fame," just received from Philadelphia, whose per- formance was recorded in the same paper. That trial was made last Saturday afternoon, and in all respects has justified my antici- pations,and demonstrated publicly the gross impolicy and impropriety of sending abroad for fire apparatus.
The distance to which the Cincinnati threw water at her first effort, was, accord-
other, 214. At the lowest figures, allowing for the difference of measurement in length of pipe, &c., the distance was precisely that of the Fame, at her farthest perform- ance, while the wind, which blew smartly in puffs on that occasion, gave that engine great advantage in the measurement. The Cincinnati cast water several feet over the spire of the Second Presbyterian church, on Fourth street, at the first trial, but it being apparent that no accurate judgment could be formed of heights in open air, no effort was made to exceed the first attempt. Her first performance in throwing upwards, ex- ceeded the first performance of the same nature by the Fame, at least twenty feet, and equaled the fourth trial of that engine, as far as the eye could he made a judge.
Of course, trials of engines not made un- der circumstances precisely alike, afford no satisfactory test of superiority, nor do I be- lieve either of the exhibitions referred to af- ford the best tests, since some engines may be made to throw as far as others, which are yet decidedly inferior in other respects. If doubts remain in the particular case of these two engines, let them be tried togeth- er before judges, composed of members of the fire department, and not belonging to ei- ther company. I have no doubt that not on- ly the Cincinnati, but the Deluge, the Con- stitution, and a new Engine, building by Mr. Cummings, of our city, will prove able to put the question of superiority at rest.
As this is a somewhat exciting subject just at this time, I desire to state distinctly that the views expressed by me upon it, are not directed to promote the interests of Messrs. Paddack, or Cummings, but refer to the great duty of giving our home manufacture the preference, where equal excellence exists, since not only our pecuniary interests, but high moral considerations rest on the estab- lishment of this principle. It is superflu- ous, after what we have seen at the Mechan- ics' Institute exhibitions, to insist that Cin- cinnati possesses in her mechanics and ar- tists as much ingenuity and skill as can be imported from other places. But it will be in vain to offer engines or anything else, here, if we bring the same article from Phil- adelphia; for how can we expect to sell to our neighbors in the West, an article we ourselves repudiate.
This brings me one step farther in the ar- gument. The Jefferson Co., at least some of the members, allege that it is nobody's business where they buy apparatus. As oth- er companies are about to purchase new en- gines, it may be proper to discuss this point. How then, are the expenses of our Fire Companies borne, and who are the actual and virtual owners of the apparatus? Take the case of this Company for example. They allege that they obtained from the whole community but five dollars and ten cents, which were contributed by two individuals.
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Their inference, therefore is, that the pub- lic have no claim upon them, such as wottld spring from pecuniary support. How is this? The city builds them an engine house, from which they derive revenue in the shape of reut, and an appropriation is made by the City Council, of one thousand dollars for the purchase of fire apparatus. I say noth- ing of the firemen's fairs,concerts, and soir- ees, to which the public so liberally contrib- ute, because I cannot tell whether the Jeffer- son Co. have derived any revenue from this source. Have the public, then no right to say that the Fire Companies are bound to give a preference to our own engine build- ers, if they can make an article equal to those at the East?
We have three manufactories of Fire appa- ratus here, who deserve the patronage, and so far as public sentiment can be made to operate, will receive it.
Flax Seed Oil Cake.
Late developments of chemical science, prove that articles of food, are flesh, or fat forming in proportion to their deficiency or abundance of oleaginous matter. Thus peas and beans, which constitute the food of swine in England, are 30 per cent. flesh, and 52 per cent. fat torming ar- ticles, while in Indiun corn 12 1-2 per cent. forms flesh, and 77 per cent. fat-the wastage on the first description of food being 18 per cent., and but 11 per cent. in the last. In point of fact, we find, as might be expected, therefore a great- er degree of solidity in the English pork than in ours, and a far inferior coating of fat.
These facts serve to explain why mast as it is called, so readily fattens hogs.
One important result follows this subject. The increasing product of flax seed, and its market here must furnish one of the most important and efficient agents in fattening, the cake which is left in grinding out oil. As soon as it shall become known by experience, as, it must, that oil cake possesses aliment for faticning more abundant, and at a lower price than other articles with which it competes, the amount made here will find a market on the spot. What that amount is, may be inferred from the fact that C. R. Miller & Co., of our city, alone man ufacture near 1,000,000 lbs. annually.
To Readers.
I commence with this day's Advertiser, the publication of a very interesting article, "Recol- lections of a Voyage to Italy." It bears every mark of truth on its face, and the attention of my readers is solicited to the scries.
I have to acknowledge various acts of kind- ness from my brother editors in Cincinnatt in their comments on my enterprise, and in giving currency to my articles through the medium of the late Dr. John Sellman, aged 61 years.
their columns. These have generally been cred- ited to me, and when they have not been, I am willing to attribute it to accident. As regards my co-laborers in this department of public teaching, being on good terms with them all, I am in the position of the butler in the Vicar of Wakefield " "I read," said he, "all the poli- tics that come out. The Daily, the Public, the Ledger, the Chronicle, the Evening, and the Post, the seventeen Magazines,and the two Re- views, and though they hate each other, I love them all."
As regards the Advertiser itself, my only re- gret is, that it is too popular for my interest, be- ing extensively picked up and carried off by interlopers before my subscribers can get to pe- ruse it. This, flattering as it appears, is doing me a serious injury. The paper costs but $2 per annum, and there is hardly one who can- not afford to pay for it. There is another and bolder class of depredators, for whom I am on the look out -- out-door thieves, who take it off the knockers, and from front doors. As soon as I can get proper testimony, such persons shall be prosecuted for the offence.
MARRIAGES.
On Thursday, the 26th ult., by the Rev. G. W. Walk- er, Mr. JOHN CALDWELL, to Miss MARY ANN JAMES, all of this city.
On Saturday, the 5th inst., by Elder Wmn. P. Stratton Mr. CHARLES BENNETT, to Miss MARY NOBLACK, all of this city.
On the 6th inst., in St. Paul's Church, Newport. Ky., by Rev. Mr. Moore, Lieut. J. C. McFERRAN, U. S. Ar my. to Miss ROSE H., daughter of the late Lieut. Col. John Green, U. S. Army.
On Monday, the 7th inst., by the Rev. Samuel R. Wil- son, Mr. JESSE HEALY, to Miss ANN W. RAY, of Indian- apolis, la.
On the 8th inst., by the Rev. Mr Mills, Mr. THOMAS COLTS, of Wheeling, to Miss MARY E. BLACK, of this city.
On Wednesday, the 9th inst., by the Rt. Rev. J. B. Purcell, JAMES GRAHAM, Esq., of New Orleans, to Miss CORNELIA, daughter of the late Morgan Neville, Esq., of this city.
In Milford, on the 9th inst., by Rev. Mr. Gurley, Mr. MARK A. BUCKINGHAM TO Miss MARGARET HAWN.
On Thursday, 10th inst., by the Rev. E. W. Sehon. Mr. FERNANDO K. MARTIN to Miss ZION M. DUNN, all of this city.
In Green Township, on the 13th inst., by the Rev. Mr. Gurley, Mr. Stephen B.Shaner to Miss Josephine,daugh- ter of Ephriam B. Williamson. Esq.
In this city, by the same, Mr. Robert L. Lancaster to Miss Mary Ann Lumsden.
DEATHS.
In Canton, Mass., 2d inst., of consumption, Mrs. LYD- IA BOWMAN, Wife of Rev. Benjamin Iluntoon, formeriy of Cincinnati, aged 38.
On the 4th inst., ot 3 o'clock, A. M., at the residence of her father, Dr. Ilendershott, of this city, SARAH E. HENDERSHOTT, aged 17 years.
On Sunday morning,6th inst., Mrs JOANNA IlAMILTON, relict of the late Wm. Hamilton, in the 69th year of her age.
On Sunday evening, 6th inst .. EMILY LEA PEABODY, wife of Herbert C. Peabody, of Mobile, and daughter of John Lea, of this city.
On Tuesday morning, 8th inst , ANNA M., Wife of Abel Shawk.
On Wednesday afternoon, the 9th inst., of an affec. tion of the heart, Mrs. ELIZABETHI SELLMAN, (widow of
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Recollections of a Voyage to Italy in 1800
In the early part of my life, I was accustomed to pass my winters in Philadelphia, and the rest of the year in the country. I spent the greater part of 1799 in rambling through the wilder- ness which now forms the States of Ohio, Indi- ana, Illinois and Missouri. I hunted with the Indians, slept in their wig-wams, and was half tempted to remain with them. I am not con- scious of being unstable in my pursuits; but when a lad, I was suffered to run wild, and even to those who have been more rigidly trained than myself, there is something very pleasing in changes and transitions, which, whether they are from "grave to gay" or from "lively to se- vere," are interesting from their contrasts, and strike our feelings as the lights and shades of a picture do our eyes. Among the Indians, who had seen me bring down a turkey on the wing with a single rifle ball, I had the reputation of being a good hunter, and capable of enduring much fatigue; but my companions in the city considered me as a mere Sybarite, and seldom found me out of bed before noon.
One reason of my indolence was, that I had nothing to do, and no one to direct me how to employ the passing hour. We may be "stretch- ed on the rack of a too easy chain." I found that I yawned much more than those of my ac- quaintance who had something to occupy or in- terest them. I sometimes thought myself capa- ble of better things. "I really do not know what to do with myself this summer," said I to my acquaintance. as we were sauntering along the street. "I really do not know where to go. I am tired of the city and yet I linger here, as if I had something to attach me to it. I have rambled in the country till there is little of no- velty to attract me there. I cannot mount my horse without some greater inducement than riding for an appetite; and as to my horse, I have not seen him since I came here, although that is so long, that if he is alive I fancy the charge for his keeping must amount to at least the sum which I paid for him; and, indeed, un- less the grooms ride him, he may have forgot the use of his limbs."
" It you are tired of both city and country," said my companion, " go to Europe." " You are fond of poetry, painting, and music-go to Italy." " Upon my word," replied I, " it might be very pleasant, and I think, I should like it." "Then I will make some enquiry about a ship to some port there, and will let you know if I can hear of one." " Be it so," said I, "I will obey your bidding, should you dircct me even to " call spirits from the vasty deep." A few days afterwards he told me that a ship was ready to sail, bound to Leghorn. All I had to do was to send my trunk on board.
A ship was new to me. I had seen our great lakes, which resemble the ocean ; but I had never seen the ocean. I was not, however, as ignorant of either, as an officer of the western army, who accompanied me to Philadelphia the preceding autumn. He was born on the frontier of Penn- sylvania, and when about ten years of age, his father's family was surprised by the Indians, his father and some others killed, and he taken to one of the Indian towns, where he was adopted in an Indian family. The boy grew up among them; but his relations discovered him, and with difficulty prevailed upon him to return to his for- mer home and associates. A lieutenant's com mission was procured for him, and he joined the western troop in a campaign against the Indians, in which he was much distinguished for his gal- lantry.
He had obtained a furlough, and accompanied me to the city. We arrived at might; the next morning he was out at daylight, and it was with difficulty that he found his way back to hislodg- ing. He said that he would with more readiness have found his way through fifty miles of woods, tban through five squares in the city. The fol- lowing day he told me that he had seen a very large ship marching down the river; but he wish- ed me to go to the Delaware with him. for it was the most singular river he had ever seen -- one part of the day it ran one way, and at another time it ran another way,-he was sure of it; for he had been several times at the wharves, and had seen it running different ways with his own eyes. I found that he had not heard of the tide, and it was difficult to make him comprehend it. But to return to myself.
On the 23d of June the ship was ready to sail, and I shipped on board of her at the wharf, and she dropped down to New Castle, where she came to, to take the Captain on board, who, having something to execute, had been detained at Phil- adelphia after her sailing. Early the next morn- ing the Captain came on board, and I found that he had already met with some adventures on his way. One of the sailors taking leave of his com- panions, had got into a frolic, and when the ship left the city, he was missing. As he was an ex- cellent seaman, the Captain was unwilling to leave him behind, and after much search had found him, and, to use his own phrase, had chartered a chaise to take them to New Castle. It was dark when they crossed the ferry at Wil- mington. The ground, in wet weather, is knee deep in mud. I was well acquainted with it ; for, when a boy, I had spent many a day in shooting snipes in the marshes in that neighborhood; and thought it a good feat with a double barreled gun to kill two rising at the same moment, and fly- ing in different directions.
After crossing the ferry the Captain found the
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darkness increased by a thick fog which cover- ed the flats, so that in a little time he could not see the horse before him; the consequence of which was, that driving too much on one side of the road, a wheel of the chaise got on the de- scending ground, and the Captain and his com- pagnon de voyage, were both thrown into a ditch full of deep water; but as water was their ele- ment, they probably came out like Commodore Tiunnion, invigorated by their immersion .- With much difficulty they got the chaise into its proper position, and as the Captain was unwilling to make any more summersets, he placed the sailor in the chaise, with, as he said, a brace in each hand, to follow, while he waded through the mud to con-explore-the way. Whenever the Captain found himself getting into the ditch on his starboard hand, he would call to Jack " port"-to which Jack would reply, with true nautical precision " port it is, sir," and pull the poor horse short up with the rein in his left hand. They got into New Castle, covered with mud, about one o'clock in the morning, and the Cap- tain, as he did not like to come on board " un- anointed and unannealed," changed his dress, and appeared among us in a very gentlemanly garb.
The ship was the Louisa, a letter of marque, mounting twelve guns, but appearing to have eighteen, six of them being what the sailors called Quakers; that is, very pacific ones, made of wood. She wes commanded by Thomas Hoggard, and had a crew of thirty men. It was during our war with the French, and the owners of the ship had armed her, as a protec- tion from the French privateers, which it was supposed she might fall in with.
The first sight of the ocean must strike the rudest breast with an impression of awe. Its immensity, and even its monotony, is sublime. But the appearance was not entirely new to me. I had seen the great lakes with their "blue, trem- bling billows, top'd with foam," apparently as shoreless as the ocean itself. The ship, howev- er, and my companions were all novel,and when the pilot took his leave, I felt strongly the sen- sation which every one must feel who leaves a home which contains many who are extremely dear to him. We were outside of the Capes, and the breeze blew fresh and chill. There were many things to be arranged about the ship, at which the sailors busied themselves, and to the whistling of the wind among the rigging, was added the frequent piping of the boatswain, as orders were given to perform different evolutions. I put on my great coat, and remained on deck. The ship went rapidly through the waves. The spray dashed over our bows, while a train of phos- phoric light sparkled in her wake. Velocity gives an impression of power, and produces de- lightful sensations.
Soma French writer mentions a country .. of his, whom he met in Arabia, who had grown as wild as the Arabs themselves, who told him that nothing was so delightful to him, as to be mounted on an Heirie, and in full speed in the Desert. Strange as this may appear, I can read- ily believe it. But this feeling partly arose from the solitude in which he was placed, enabling him to fancy himself a more important part of creation, than he would have thought himself to be in the midst of a crowd.
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