USA > Ohio > Hamilton County > Cincinnati > The Cincinnati miscellany, or, Antiquities of the West, and pioneer history and general and local statistics, Volume I > Part 50
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all times a large sum of money unemployed .-- Besides, that it is not only subject to the usual expenses of a Banking house for rent, salaries, &e. but compelled to pay $400 annually to the City Government, for its privileges, and a lea- vy additional tax to the State.
Now, where a business is attended with all the labor and expense of ordinary trade, it is but just that it should command the profits of trade.
It is only where money is wanted for short periods, that it can be borrowed to advantage from this Bank. A man may pay $1 per day for the use of a $50 horse ; or 6} eents per day "for the temporary use of $50. He may pay 50 cents for a meal at a tavern, or 50 cents for a loan of $400 for a day. But as no one would think of hiring a horse for a year at one dellar per day, or of remaining at a tavern during a like period at two dollars per day, so no man in his senses would think of borrowing money for long periods at one-eighth of one per cent. per day.
Living by Faith.
Rev. E. N. Sawtell, it will be recollec- ted lectured not long since at the First and See- ond Presbyterian Churches of Cincinnati on the religious state of France and Italy. I am not aware in what official capacity he appeared be- fore the Presbyterian Churches here, I presume however as an agent to some of the religious societies in New. York .
In 1836 and 37, if not later he was employed 'by the Seaman's Friend Society to occupy the pulpit of their Chapel at Havre, France. It was during that period, and while struggling with the financial embarrassments which he shared with his employers in America during that gloomy business period, that he wrote the fol- lowing letter, in which it is impossible to say whether wit and humor, or pious confidence and cheerfulness abound most.
"HAVRE, June 8, 1837.
"You are indeed putting my faith to the test. My spirit sunk within me at getting no remit- panee by the Utica. Obtain funds here is entire- ly out of the question, for the prevailing opinion is, that all America has failed, from General Jackson down to the shoe-black. In my letter, by Mr. Stoddard, I more than intimated that I must leave, and return to America, and yet how to do it, in the present embarrassed state of the chapel, is a thing that quite puzzles me. My situation is unlike that of a broken merchant, who may, perhaps, out of the fragments of a vast estate, line his pockets with something to feed his family. For me to stop payment, is to stop eating-and I need not tell you what would be my next stoppage in this stopping process, in all probability it would be that of breathing - quite a serious failure that, particularly to a pub- lic speaker. Several little occurrences, howcv- er, have of late transpired, which encourage me
to hope, that in angling about 1 may yet catch a fish with money in his mouth.
A few days ago a handcart stopped at my door loaded with chickens, dueks, fish, a turkey, a calis head and feet ; indeed, for variety, it bore no small resemblance to Peter'a sheet, and I strongly suspect, that the same hand that let down the sheet had something to do in this matter. It appears that on the arrival of the Uti- ea, their fresh provisions, which are packed in ice, must be disposed of, and, in their disposal, the officers kindly remembered their chaplain. They have ever manifested a deep interest in the cause of the chapel since I have been here. The Lord be praised, and a thousand thanka to . them.
For many months my wardrobe had given ocular demonstration of hard times, and seem- ed strongly to sympathize with the deranged state of the commercial world. When it became entirely unable te meet its demands, I went to the tailor. was measured for a new suit, with- out even the courage to ask him to wait for his pay, or the honesty to tell him he was running a risk. It seems, however, that the American captains, (an increased number of whom, I re- joice to say, attended the chapel) had been no- ticing the same thing, to wit, that the parson's outer-man. to say nothing of the inner, needed a reformation, and intimated to some of my friends, that they would make an attempt upon my person, if they were certain that I would take no offence; being assured that I considered the servant not above his Lord, they very soon ealled on me, and intimated their wishes, that I would get me a suit of clothes, and they had the money to pay for them. I told them that I was expecting a suit sent in, and had feared they would come before I was prepared to pay for them. Just as they began to count ont the mon- ey, in came the tailor with the clothes. Surely, thought I, "I need to take no 'thought for my life, what I shall eat, nor for my body what I shall put on." But, like the Jews of old, who could murmur with the flesh between their teeth 1 soon forgot it-for I was owing several hun- dred franes of borrowed money, which must be paid on a certain day in the following week, clouds thickened and darkened around me to such a degree, that I lost all faith, and my mind was not a little troubled in my preparations for the Sabbath, and on my way to the chapel, I felt as though a covering of saekeloth would suit me better than my new coat. I found, how- ever, the chapel full of people, and many I knew to be Americans. I noticed in particular, one keen, black-eyed gentleman, who listened just as though he loved the truth. After preaching. he sought an introduction, walked home with ine, and called to see me on Monday. 1 show- ed him your letter by the Utica; he went out, but returned with a hundred dollars, which he put in my hands, saying, "If the winds change so as to detain the vessel, I shall have to call for this to pay my tavern bill;" but he who holds the winds in his fist did not suffer it to change, and that debt, about which I was so faithless and unbelieving, is paid.
Coleman and his Attachment.
I do not recollect in the fictions of Johnson, or the more scrupulous narrative of Gibbon, a more striking instance of the vanity of human wish- es, and the uncertainty of human calculati~ **
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than the deccase of COLEMAN, of the Eolian at- tachment of which a late mail has brought us ti- - dings. After buffeting the world for years, friend- less and insignificant, prospects of honor and profit open on him, such as offer themselves to dred thousand dollars in the United States, and half a million in Europe from his ingenuity, and just as he is casting about to see where he shall , Invest his accumulating riches, he is swept from the stage of existence. "What shadows we are and what shadows we pursue !"
I will tell you what happened to a painter my acquaintance. A dentist sat to him two of days -- the painter worked away very hard-looked at the picture then at the sitter. "Why, sir,' said he, 'I'find I have been all wrong -what can it be ? Why, sir, your month is not at all like what it was yesterday.' 'Ah! I will tell you vat it ees,' replied the French dentist; "ah ! good -my mouse is not the same-yester- day I did have my jaw in, but I did lend it out to a lady this day.
Painters generally discover the vanity of their sitters; they seldom fail to observe the pains they take to conceal any little defects or even great deformities. The annexed is an illustra- tion:
I happened to call some time since, upon a painter with whom I was on intimate terms . [ found him in a roar of laughter, and quite alone. · What is the matter?' said I. . Matter" replied he; * why, here has hecn Mr. B. sitting to me these four days following, at last, about half an hour ago, he, sitting in in that chair puts up his hand to me, thus, with .Stop a moment, Mr. painter; I don't know whether you have no- ticed it or not, but it is right that I should tell you that I have a slight cast in my eye .'
You know Mr. B. a worthy good man, but he has the very worst gimlet eye I ever beheld.'- Thought his defect wondrously exagerated, when, for the first time, he saw it on canvass; and perhaps all his family noticed it there, whom custom had reconciled into hut little observa- tion of it, and the painter was considered no friend of the family . Do you remember how a foolish man lost a considerable sum of money once, by forgetting this human propensity ? flc had lost some money to little K- of Bath, the deformed gambler-and being nettled at his loss, thought to pique the winner. . I'll wager,' said he, ' £50, I'll point out the worst log in the company.' 'Done,' said K- to his aston- ishment. 'The man does not know himself' thought he, for there sat K -- crouched np all shapes by the fireside. The wagerer, to win his bet, at once cried, "Why, that,' pointing to K -.- 'sleg, which was extended towards the
grate, "No,' said K-, quietly unfolding the other from beneath the chair. and showing it. .that's worse .' By which you may learn tho fact-that every man puts his best leg foremost. * * * *
All sitters expect to be flattered. Take, for few men for acceptance. He realises an hun- instance, the following scene, which was rela- ted to me by a miniature painter : A man up- ward of forty years of age, had been sitting to him-one of as little pretensions as you can well imagine; you would have thought it impossiblo that he could have had any homopathic propor- tion of vanity-of personal vanity at least; but it turned out otherwise. "Well, sir,' said the painter, 'that will do -I think [ have been very fortunate in your likeness.' The man looks at Sitting for a Portrait. it, and says nothing, puts on an expression of This is the title of a most amusing article in the February number of Blackwood's Magazine, "which we commend to the attention of artists as well as sitters, the latter of whom may gain some hints from it as regards postare, attitude. . modes of concealing defects, &c., whilst the for- mer may see some of the accessaries of their profession sketched to perfection. The article, too, is illustrated by some humorous anecdotes of which we select the following. disappointment. 'What! don't you think it like sir ?' says the artist. . Why-ye-ee-s. it is li -- i -- ke -- bnt-' 'But what sir? I think it is like?' 'Why, I'd rather yon should find it out yourself. Have the goodness to look at me.' -- And here my friend the painter declared, that he put on a most detestably affected grin of am- iability. ‹Well, sir, upon my word, I don't see any fault at all ; it seems to me as like as it can be: I wish you'd be so good as to tell me what you mean.' 'Oh, sir, I'd rather not -- I'd rather you should find it out yourself, look again .' 'I can't see any difference, sir ; so if you don't tell me it can't be altered .' 'Well, then, with re- Inctance, if I must tell you, I don't think you have given my sweet expression about the eyes"
Our last anecdote shows the importance of a painter's never forgetting the characteristics of his sitter:
A painter, the other day, as I am assured, in a country town, made a great mistake in a char- acteristic, and it was discovered by a country farmer. It was the portrait of a lawyer -- an at- torney, who, from humble beginnings, had made a good deal of money, and enlarged, thereby, his pretensions, but some how or other not very much enlarged his respectability.
To his pretensions was added that of having Fis portrait put up in the parlor, as large as life. There it is, very flashv and very trne -- one hand in his breast, the other in his small clothes' pock- ct. It is market day -- the country clients are called in -- opinions are passed-the family pres- ent, and all complimentary-sach as, Never saw such a likeness in the course of all mv born days. As like 'um as he can stare.' 'Well, sure enough, there he is.' But at lust- - there is one dissentient ! "Tan't like --- not very --- no 'tain't,' said a heavy, middle-aged farmer. with rather a dry look, too, about his month, and a moist one at the corner of his eye, and who knew the at- torney well. All were upon him. Not like! how not like? Sav where is it not like ?' . Why, don't von see,' said the man, "he's got his hand in his breeches pocket. It would he as like a- grain if he had his hand in any other body's pocket.' The family portrait was removed, es- pecially as, after this, many come on purpose to see it; and so the attorney was lowered a peg, and the farmer obtained the reputation of a con- noisseur .
MARRIAGES.
On Thursday evening, the 17th inst., by the Rev. E. W. Sehon, Mr. ALFRED MILLER TO Miss SUSANNAH GAS- KILL, all of this city.
": Sunday, April 20th, by Elder Win. P. Stratton, Mfr: STEPHEN S AYRES IO Miss ELIZABETH AYRES.
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Relies of the Past!
There are two references in the annexed let- ter of Gen. Wilkinson, which need explanation. The "God of war" refers to Gen. Knox, then Secretary of the War Department, always deem- ed unfriendly to the settlement of the West, for private aud mercenary reasons. The "Gaines" alluded to is Gen. Edmund P. Gaines, whose promotion from Ensign to Lieutenant it announ- ces, and whose continnance in the army for nearly sixty years is without a parallel in the United States service, and has few examples in European military registers .
Gen. J. Wilkinson to Capt. John Armstrong. Fort Washington, April 29th, 1792.
DEAR SIR :
All your letters except those by Mc- Daniel have come safe to hand ; I fear these have taken the back track, as we have not seen or heard of the man. Please to forward me a du- plicate of your letters by him.
You will find from the enclosed list, that lit- tle Hodgdon, altho' always deficient, has not been so much so as you expect-the articles re- ceipted for by Shaumburgh were expressly for your garrison, and exclusive of those intended for Jefferson. The articles which remain unsup- plied, will be furnished by the next escort as far as they can be procured, and you must write to Lt. Shaumburgh to return you the articles which he improperly carried forward, or such part as may be handily conveyed by your ex- presses-viz: the chalk lines, gimlets, stone, compass, saw and chisel. You cannot be too cautious, for I fear it will be impossible with all your vigilance, to preserve every man's hair a month longer-you have to combat an enter- prising, subtle, persevering enemy, who to gain an advantage would think it no hardship to creep a mile upon his belly over a bed of thorns.
Your regiment is broken all to pieces by pro- snotion, you are now second Captain, and if the God of war was not unfriendly to you, you should soon be a major. The organization and discipline of the array. is to undergo a great reform. The particulars have not yet been transmitted to me-but I am told, it is to be stil- ed the American Legion, commanded by a Ma- jor general, and divided into four sub legions, to be commanded by Brigadiers. I infer that the inferior corps will be battalions comman- ded by majors, and that regiments are to be done away, as we are to liave no more Lt. Col- onels. Ziegler's resignation was accepted, and he struck off the rolls the 5th of March, long be- fore he had offered his commission to me. Sub- ordination and sobriety are circumstances which the President is determined to enforce at all haz- ards.
I wish you to congratulate Gaines for me on his promotion, and tell him that it will depend upon himself, in a great degree, when he may be a Captain. My friendship will depend en- tirely upon his continuing the sober man, I for- merly knew him to be. I feel some anxiety for Elliott's last convoy by the river-should it ar- rive safe, you will return the escort under cov- er of the night to this place. The season ap- proaches when we must not trifle with the ene- my. Adieu.
I am with sincere regard, yours,
JAS. WILKINSON, Lt. Col. Commandant.
N . B. You will make up and sign the abstracts of the contractor, in as strict conformity to the order of the 18th Feb. as may be, and in future are to observe it exactly ; to this end all detach- ments and parties passing you, must specify in their returns, the respective corps and compa- nies to which they appertain . J. W
CAPT. JNO. ARMSTRONG.
Capt. John Armstrong to Gen. J. Wilkinson. FORT HAMILTON, 16th May, 1792. MY DEAR FRIEND:
Your letters of the 29th of April, and 11th May, come duly to hand. Capt. Peters with his convoy marched this morning; and I am extremely happy you mentioned the circum- stance of the troops returning from St. Clair being detained on the opposite shore all night, as it gives me an opportunity of communicating to you the cause why they were so detained, and trust my motives will justify the measure, and convince you that in doing so, I did my duty. Those troops arrived at sunset. The large flat being rendered useless by a neglect in the men of Lt. Shaumburgh's command. The river was high. Having the small flat only to effect the crossing, it would have taken the greater part of the night: and from the height of the water and darkness of the weather, I conceived would be attended with much danger, and perhaps the loss of several lives.
I sincerely thank you for your friendly ad- vice, respecting the exercise of the law martial against a citizen, and shall adhere strictly there- to.
Sure I am the circumstance of having confin- ed one of the contractor's men must have been improperly and partially represented to you. Contempt of an order of the commanding officer of a post, would be unjustifiable in a citizen -- much more so in one that is in some measure connected with the army and agreeable to the customs established in the last war, subject to be punished by martial law. See sect. 13, art. 23rd, of the articles of wur. Men employ- ed by the contractor as an Q. M., are indulged
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with an idea that they were not subject to the j and not benefited much by the commanding of- law martial, figure to yourself what would be ficers being at so great a distance, who, I pre- sume; would reduce some companies to fill oth- ers, and send the supernumerary officers on the recruiting service. the situation of an officer commanding one of our recruits. That they are subject thereto, I never heard disputed. Should those characters be impressed with a different idea and supported therein, fatal would be the consequences produ- ced in an army. I shall at all times give a nega- tive to the establishment of so bad a precedent.
In the return you inclosed from the Quarter Master, he has committed an error-the com- pany book mentioned therein it seems was in- tended for, and is appropriated with the wafers, quills, and greater part of the paper to the use of his department.
The oil stone is also missing. My surveyors remain idle for want of files. On further inqui- ry, I find the surveyor mentioned in my last, is at Covault's station, instead of Dunlap's. Iwish you could for a time spare me the cooper belong- ing to Capt. Kersey's Company, and now at Fort Washington, togbe employed in making can- teens. I have a quantity of cedar collected for that purpose.
A part of each of the unfinished buildings in the Bastions, is raised two stories high, and may hereafter be converted into soldiers' bar- racks and officers' quarters. Iintend finishing the upper story in each, so that when you honor us with a visit, a cool, comfortable room will be at your service. The articles mentioned in the inclosed returns are actually wanted, and I hope you will think proper to order them furnished .
Capt . Peters' detachment marched yesterday morning, and in the evening the savages toma- hawked a man, employed bythe quarter master to drive the public team, about four hundred yards from the fort, where he had strolled without arms, and contrary to the order of 5th April. It ap- pears that the fellow was sitting down at the root of a tree, and perhaps asleep.
I employ as a guard to the cattle a non-com- missioned officer, and eight who have orders to confine themselves to some thicket near the drove, and be seen as seldom as possible. Per- mit me here to observes the contractor ought to have one or two men to drive the bullocks, cov- ered by the guard. Your orders respecting the bacon &c. shall be strictly attended to.| I have signed the abstracts up to the 1st of May, and confess to you, I can't see any way of execu- ting them agreeable to the copy from the war office. You will please to observe there is no column for artificers, wagoners, pack-horsemen, or for any extra rations whatever. I would thank you to point out the mode of bringing those in with a strict uniform one to the returns sent for- ward refered into your orders. I kept no copy of my letter by McDonald, or it contained noth- ing material. Our regiment is broken indeed,
Those woodsmen you have been pleased to direct for each post will be the means of saving many of our best men, who are generally em- ployed on the service undertaken by them .- Your partizan corps will have much in their power, and I trust do honor to themselves-it is the handsomest command in the army. I am sorry the God of war has formed any unjust pre- judices against me. I will not suffer him to do me injustice and ask no favors. The person who made the representation to you, must be young in service, and possessed of more passion than judg- ment, to have crossed the troop and left near a hundred horses without a guard, would, in my opinion, have been very improper.
Yours respectfully. JOHN ARMSTRONG. Capt. Commandant.
Ship Building on the Ohio.
It appears to be a gencral impression on the public mind, that the Barque "Muskingum," which was built at Marietta, and was loaded a few weeks since at Cincinnati for Liverpool, is the first vessel built upon our western waters for crossing the broad Atlantic. This is a great mistake, as is well known to hundreds.
The Brig "General Butler," was builtin Pitts- burgh in 1810 by Gen. James O'Hara of that place. It was loaded with flour for Liverpool, to which port Wm. O'Hara sailed as supercargo.
After unloading at Liverpool, she cleared for Philadelphia, and was supposed to have founder- ed at sea, as she never reached that port. .
Still earlier, and about the year 1806, a ship named the Western Trader, was also built. She was commanded by Capt. John Brevoort, under whose superintendence she was fitted out. This vessel was cleared for Marscilles, France, where she arrived safely, but on the production of her papers at the customhouse, they were pronoun- ced false, no such port in the world as Pitts- burgh being known at Marseilles.
A map of the United States, however, being produced, Capt. Brevoort pointing out the mouth of the Mississippi, traced with his finger its course up to the junction of that stream with the Ohio, and followed the latter river on the map one thousand miles to the junction of the Monongahela and Alleghany, at which spot, he pointed out his port of departure to the great astonishment of the French douaniers.
The rigging, cables, anchors, sails, &c of the Western Trader had been hauled across the Al- leghany mountains. Those who recollect the condition of the road from Philadelphia to Pitts-
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burgh, even after it became a stage route, and as late as 1814, will comprehend what an enter- prise this must have been at that date. The crew were also engaged at the east. The Wes- tern Trader returned to Philadelphia, from which port she made several voyages, and was shut up there during the general embargo, which pre- ceded the war of 1812. Much of her timbers were black walnut, and the vessel decayed in a few years.
The facts in the case of the Western Trader were given by HENRY CLAY, substantially in these terms, on the floor of Congress in his speech on the imprisonment of American sailors.
Poetry.
WOMAN'S SPHERE. . INSCRIBED TO MISS. A. B.
BY L. J. CIST.
"She filled her woman's sphere on earth." .
"HEP. woman's sphere !"-and tell us, thou To whom our heart in reverence bow- Thou who so well dost fill it here -- Say how could nobler sphere be given This side the white-robed choirs of heaven Than, rightly filled, is "woman's sphere?"
Where lieth woman's sphere ?- Not there, Where strife and fierce contentions are ; Not in the bloody battle field, With sword and hehnet, lance and shield ; Not in the wild and angry crowd, Mid threat'nings high, and clamors loud ; Not in the halls of rude debate And legislation, is her seat ; Nor yet in scenes of weak display- Of vanity, with its array Of pride and selfishness-not here, Lieth true hearted "WOMAN'S SPHERE !"
What then is "woman's sphere?"-The sweet And quiet precincts of her home; Home !- where the blest affections meet,
Where strife and hatred may not come ! Home-sweetest word in mother-tongue, Long since in verse undying sung ! Ilome -- of her holiest hopes the shrine, Around which all her heart-strings twine ! There, loved and loving-safe from fear, Lies ever woman's noblest sphere. There hers the mighty power to wield, To which the warrior's lance and shield, . Helmet and sword are powerless- The God-like gift to save and bless ! To save the erring from his sin, And back to paths of virtue win ; . To bless -- in every stage of life, AS MOTHER -- DAUGHTER -- SISTER-WIFE !
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