THE MESSENGER UNDER THE NEW POSTAGE LAW.

The Reduction of Postage on Periodicals under the new system is matter of congrat ulation to the Public. To all within 1500 miles of the place of publication, the rates are nearly twenty-five per cent less than under the former law, and to all within 500 miles, more than 50 per cent less. The only augmentation is felt beyond 1500 miles, but as most of our readers reside within that limit, this will scarcely affect us.

We trust this reduction in the cost of receiving the Messenger will bring to it a large increase of subscribers. While the objection, heretofore urged to subscribing, of the Expense of Postage, has been in a measure removed, we are endeavoring to make the magazine more and more worthy of the support of the Southern people. We subjoin

THE RATES UNDER THE NEW LAW.
PAYABLE QUARTERLY IN ADVANCE.

For any distance under 500 miles,

(c

""

(c

(c

66 500 (( and not exceeding 1500
1500 66
2500

66

(C

"(

The Postage, to secure the benefit of the deduction, must be pre-paid quarterly; otherwise double these rates will be demanded.

JNO. R. THOMPSON.

AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SCIENCE AND ARTS.

Published at New Haven, Connecticut, every two months, in numbers of 152 pages each,

AT $5 A YEAR.

Per Quarter, 7 Cents.

15 66 30 (C

EDITORS, PROF. B. SILLIMAN, B. SILLIMAN, JR., AND JAMES D. DANA.

The SECOND SERIES of this JOURNAL began with January, 1846.

CONTENTS OF THE NUMBER FOR SEPTEMBER.

F. SHEPHERD on the Geysers of California.
Review of Prof. Burke's Report on the Coast

Survey.

J. D. DANA, on Coral Reefs and Islands.

E. W. BLAKE, on the Flow of Elastic Fluids. through Orifices.

Prof. HOSFORD, Relation of Chemical Composition and Taste.

Foucault's Pendulum Experiment.

J. D. DANA, on a case of Isomorphism.

Mineralogical Notices.

Review of Foster & Whitney's Geology of the
Lake Superior Copper Region.

R. J. MURCHISON, on former Changes in the Alps.
C. S. LYMAN, on the Pendulum Experiment.
B. SILLIMAN, Jr., Notes from Europe; on Vesu-
vius; the Grotto del Cane; Meteorological
Observatory of Vesuvius; Gilland's method
of using Hydrogen Gas, for Illumination; Ab-
stracts of the Proceedings of the Meeting of
the British Association, at Ipswich in July.

The number also contains Notices of Discoveries at Home and Abroad in Chemistry, Geology, Astronomy and other sciences. SILLIMAN & DANA.

MACFARLANE & FERGUSSON,

BOOK, JOB & FANCY PRINTERS,

Franklin Street, Richmond, Va.

Also, agents for the SOUTHERN LITERARY MESSENGER, and VIRGINIA HISTORICAL REGISTER, both of which works they publish.

SOUTHERN LITERARY MESSENGER.!

JNO. R. THOMPSON, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR.

VOL. XVII., Nos. 10 & 11. OCTOBER & NOVEMBER, 1851. Whole Number, CCIII.

RICHMOND, VA.

MACFARLANE & FERGUSSON.

THIS WORK IS PUBLISHED IN MONTHLY NUMBERS AVERAGING SIXTY-FOUR PAGES EACH, AT FIVE DOLLARS, PER ANNUM, INVARIABLY IN ADVANCE.

Advertisement.

WITH the view of devoting my time in future exclusively to the Literary Department of the Messenger, I wish
to form a connection with an active partner who shall manage its business affairs. I therefore am willing to dis
pose of one-half of the property of the magazine upon liberal terms. The position of the Messenger as one of the
best periodicals in the United States has never been more generally recognised than at the present time, and to an
energetic inan of business, this opportunity is one of rare ocurrence.
Further particulars will be given upon application by letter (post-paid) or in person.
Address

JNO. R. THOMPSON,
RICHMOND, VA.

1 November, 1850.

At RANDOLPH'S Book and Stationery Store,

121 MAIN STREET, RICHMOND,

Can be found the largest-stock of New Goods in Virginia, and as the whole was bought for cash, Country Merchants and others are assured that their orders will be supplied at lower prices than formerly. A part of the stock consists of various New and Standard School Books, of the latest editions, (many of which will be given to Teachers without charge,) Law, Medical, Theological, and Miscellaneous works."

300 Reams Wrapping Paper, from 37 1-2 cents up.

1,000 Reams Letter Paper, at $1 per ream-to the finest quality made.
800 Reams Foolscap Paper, at $120 to $5 per ream.

2,000 Blank Books of Home Manufacture.

150,000 Letter Envelopes.

200 Gross Steel Pens.

25,000 Quills.

Bonnet Boards, Slates, Ink, Wafers, Violins and Strings, Flutes, Fifes, Guitars, and various other goods in the
Stationery, Music and Fancy line. A call from Country Merchants, Teachers and others, is solicited by
November, 1851.

J. W. RANDOLPH.

AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SCIENCE AND

ARTS.

Published at New Haven, Connecticut, every two months, in numbers of 152 pages each,

AT $5 A YEAR.

EDITORS, PROF. B. SILLIMAN, B. SILLIMAN, JR., AND JAMES D. DANA.

The SECOND SERIES of this JOURNAL began with January, 1846.

CONTENTS OF THE NUMBER FOR NOVEMBER.

Prof. D. Olmsted on the Zodiacal light; Dr. Lumsdaine on the Cultivation of Nutmegs and Cloves; J. D. Dana on Coral Reefs; Prof. A. D. Bache on the Tides of Cat Island, Gulf of Mexico; Prof. Safford on the Geology of Tennessee; Dr. J. L. Smith on the Thermal Waters of Asia Minor; Dr. Goadby on the Preservation of Animal Substances; C. S. Lyman, a review of the results on the Pendulum Experiment and the Modes of Experimenting; also various Mineralogical Articles; Selections from the Proceedings of the British Association, and abstracts of accounts of recent discoveries in Chemistry, Physics, &c., &c.

The number is illustrated with Seven Plates.

MACFARLANE & FERGUSSON,

BOOK, JOB & FANCY PRINTERS,

Franklin Street, Richmond, Va.

Also, agents for the SOUTHERN LITERARY MESSENGER, and VIRGINIA HISTORICAL REGISTER, both of which works they publish.

PUBLISHED MONTHLY AT FIVE DOLLARS PER ANNUM-JNO. R. THOMPSON, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR.

RICHMOND, OCTOBER & NOVEMBER, 1851. NOS. 10 & 11.

the freeholders, generally spoke their sentiments, either illiberal or refined. The standing revenue, which had been established at the restoration, and which now produced four thousand pounds sterling, being unequal to the payment of the civil list and other contingent charges, was aided by three hundred pounds from the quit-rents, the private estate of the king. The aborigines had long ceased to be objects of dread, since they were now subjected to vassalage; the alien Indians were overawed by a militia of fifteen thousand men, formidable to them, though unfit for regular service. And, secured from foreign and internal foes, and protected in their privileges, the Virginians augmented their numbers, their commerce, their wealth and their power, during the inattentive administration of George I., beyond the example of other colonies.

for

•

"It is to be lamented, that they continued to be too much animated by the unhappy principles which they had imported from the north during the reign of William, and by the seditious example that had been recently set before them by their neighbors on the south. Owing to these causes, the provincials chose such burgesses as had declared their resolution to raise no taxes this temper, during the session of 1715, they exAnd, urged by any occasion whatsoever.'* pelled two members for having the generosity to serve without pay, which they termed bribery.' It is apparent from the proceedings of both parties, during that convention, more remarkable for its votes than its laws,' that they were all actuated by faction. Conscious of the superiority of his talents and the independence of his station, Spotswood offended by his neglect the counsellors' pride, and by his haughtiness, the When measures rising spirit of the burgesses. were therefore proposed, that reduced the governor to the dilemma of either disobeying his instructions or raising popular clamor, he dissolved, with unjustifiable circumstances of contempt, an assembly, which had exhausted five weeks in "Divided already [in the first year of George fruitless altercation. Though the Board of Trade I.] into twenty-five counties, this Dominion en- commended his general conduct, they disapprojoyed a royal government; composed of a gov-ved of his speech to the burgesses, who, though ernor appointed by the King, who nominated mean, ignorant people, and did not comply with inferior magistrates; of twelve counsellors, who, his desires, ought not to have been irritated by created by the regal mandate, enjoyed, from the sharp expressions, which may not only incense constitution, considerable authority and aimed at them, but even their electors.' From the date of greater;* of fifty-two burgesses, who, elected by that event, anonymous letters were constantly transmitted against him to the Board, who gave him an opportunity of evincing, by the vigor of his answers, that the province prospered under a wise administration, though trivial discontents had arisen from petty offences given and received. And, while Spotswood complained of this treacherous method of assaulting his reputation,'

"

VOL. XVII.

LIEUT. GOVERNOR SPOTSWOOD

AND THE

VIRGINIA BURGESSES.

AN UNPUBLISHED HISTORICAL EPISODE.

The following extract from "Chalmers' Colonial History," is a fit introduction to the Journal of the Council of Virginia, (sitting as the upper house of Assembly,) contained in the succeeding pages. This Journal was obtained from the of fice of the Secretary of the Commonwealth, and, with the exception of some immaterial entries, is a complete copy of the original. It is deemed of some value, as giving a juster view than can otherwise readily be had of the rather anomalous constitution of the Colony at that day, in its practical working, of the energetic, though somewhat haughty spirit, of Lieut. Governor Spotswood, (perhaps the best loved and honoured name among the Colonial Governors of Virginia,) and of the liberty-loving but factious disposition of the House of Burgesses. It will also, taken in connection with the notes appended, particularly note A, give a better knowledge than can be gained from any history, of the almost desperate condition of South Carolina at that period, from a general combination of the Indians in and around her, and of the imminent danger to Virginia, apprehended by the Governor from the same source. Upon this last point Chalmers is incorrect, stating as he does that the Indians had ceased to be objects of dread in Virginia. But to return to the extract from his history.

*Their assent was necessary to all the Governor's official acts; they constituted one branch of the Assembly; they exercised the principal judicial authority as judges of the General Court; they were at the head of the militia as lieutenants of the counties; they acted as collectors of the export duty on tobacco and the other provincial imposts, and generally also, of the parliamentary duties, while they farmed the king's quit-rents at a very favorable bargain."-Hildreth's U. States, vol. 2, p. 234.

VOL. XVII-74

*These quotations are probably made from Governor Spotswood's letters to the Board of Trade.

6

he insisted, that some men are always dissatis-gesses of freedom in their persons and estates fied, like the tories, if they are not allowed to from arrests and other disturbances, that in all govern; men who look upon every one not born their debates they may have liberty of speech, in the country as a foreigner.'*-Vol. II., PP and as occasion requires free access to the Governor's person, assuring his Honor that this House of Burgesses will endeavour to merit the continuance of those privileges by behaving themselves as become dutifull subjects to his majesty, and

71, 72.

At a General Assembly, begun and held at the Capitol, the third day of August, in the first year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord George, by the grace of God of Great Britain, France and discharging the great trust reposed in them acIreland, King, Defender of the Faith, &c.-cording to the oaths they have now taken. Annoq. Dni. 1715. To which the Governor answered:

66

PRESENT.-The Hon'ble Alexander Spots- Gentlemen,-I have no intention to invade wood, His Majesty's Lieutenant Governor; Ro- any of your priviledges, and you may depend that bert Carter, James Blair, Philip Ludwell, John all the just rights and priviledges enjoyed by any Smith, John Lewis, Wm. Cocke, Nathan'll Har- former House of Burgesses shall be confirmed rison, Mann Page and Robert Porteus, Esqrs. and continued to this."

William Cocke, Mann Page and Robert Porteus, Esqrs., appointed by the Governor's commission to administer the oaths enjoined by law. Gentlemen of the Council and to the Burgesses returned to serve in this Assembly, reported that they had accordingly administered the said oaths to forty-nine members of the House of Burgesses, who are now mett in their House.

House of Burgesses:

Ordered:

That the Clerk of the General Assembly go to the House of Burgesses and command their immediate attendance on the Governor in the Council Chamber.

The Burgesses attending, the Governor spoke

as follows:

“Gentlemen :—The first step to be proceeded in towards the business for which you are assembled is that you, Gentlemen of the House of Burgesses, repair to your House and make choice of a Speaker."

"What has lately befallen our fellow-subjects in South Carolina, is surely a dreadful warning to this government, whose inhabitants live as much exposed and I am not now to whisper to you (as formerly) my apprehensions of future dangers and practicable attempts: Murders, massacres and tortures already committed on your neighbours, loudly call upon you to arm and secure your people from a treacherous and merciless enemy: and after such an ultima ratio, such ultimate reasoning, words must add little towards convincing you of the necessity of a more usefull militia, and of providing better for the defence of your frontiers.

66

Since you, Gentlemen of the Council, have And then the Council adjourned till to-morrow concurred with me in all the measures hitherto morning, ten o'clock. taken for the relief of our distressed brethren in South Carolina, and have resolved with me to afford them all the assistance that lyes in our power to give, it now rests solely on you, Gentlemen of the House of Burgesses, to determine whether or no that oppressed province shall owe its deliverance to Virginia.

"I question not but in the deliberations of your House, you'll find that duty, honour and interest engage you to give immediate succour, and I hope these motives will enable you to overcome the difficultys which humour or prejudice may cast in the way.

"It is the maxim of your mother country, to defend its neighbouring States (though foreign

A message from the House of Burgesses to the Governor, by Mr. Corbin and others, that the House had made choice of a speaker, and waited his Honor's commands when to present him. Whereupon the Governor was pleased to appoint to-morrow at 11 o'clock in the Council Chamber.

THURSDAY, AUGUST THE 4TH, 1715. Present as yesterday.

The House of Burgesses (according to order) attended the Governor in the Council Chamber, and presented Daniel McCarty of the County of Westmoreland, Gent., as their Speaker, who being approved by the Governor, made the usual Petitions for the ancient priviledges of the Bur

After which the Governor made the following speech:

*From the succeeding part of Chalmers' account of this administration, it appears that these attacks upon Spotswood were continued until his removal was procured.

"Nothing less than a very important occasion could have urged me thus suddenly to call an Assembly and to convene you at this season of the year. I judged it high time to have recourse to your advice and assistance when the safety and honour of this Colony lyes dangerously at

stake.