San Luis Advocate (San Luis, Tex.), Vol. 1, No. 6, Ed. 1, Tuesday, October 6, 1840 Page: 2 of 4
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Rt mode of writing symbols beine emoloved
istead of objects while numbers wererepre-
cmca oj particular signs. The figure of n
rcie representee: an unit and in small nutn-
rs.tue computation was made by represent
ing it. Larger numbers were expressed bv a
peculiar mark and they had such as denoted
an imegrainumDers from twenty to eisht thou
sand. Had the empire been permitted to exist
they would have probably advanced through
all those progressive stages by which from
similar beginnings the people of the old world
bat length attained to the construction of alpha-
Fbets.
Their mode of computing time Is considered
s-a more decisive evidence of their progress
improvement Their civil year was a solar
le of 3G5 days and consisted of eighteen
lonths of twenty days each with five supcr-
itimcrarv davs which were devoted to pastime
and festivity- The day was reconed to begin
at sunrise and was divided into four intervals
by the rising and setting of that luminary nnd
its two passages over the meredian. Each
month was divided into four wecks'of five days
ach. Thirteen vears formed a cycle to which
they gave a particular name and four of these
constituted a period of fifty-two years which
they denoted by another term. Two of these
periods of fifty-two years formed what they
called an old age. At the end of fifty-two years
thirteen dars were intercalated to bring their
jme up to the season; which makes the.ir year
if roe Willi Hh Italian neriod I ; uJ ana o
... ? t L1- -!. tl
lours and discovers a consiaeruuic ucSi "
ihilosophical accuracy.
tmnnir pirriimstanCCS which. Oil the Other
hand tend to prove the paitinl nature of their
pivilizniinn must be reconed their atrocious re
ligion the cruel character of their wars thou;
want of money and of metal tools and tlft
small progress which they had made in sub-
jecting animals to their service. Their archi-
rccturc was also of an humble sort. The hous-
es occupied by the common people were mere
hovels nor were the dwellings of the nobles of
. mr.ii eimnrinr r.haracter. Even the temples
. ......... rr -
r the cods were little oetier man neaps ui eai ui
R.M..1 with stone. Their religion had also pro
duced a ferocity of manners little superior to
That was to be found among savages wniie
die tendency of their civil institutions was to
Ccgrade and impoverish the great bulk of the
l-jinnp1' lc mgner classes amuc psjiojm
the more fertile lands; the governors ot provin-
ces indulged with impunity in the severest ex-
actions; and the working people were every
where oppressed. The highways swarmed
with mendicants; anil from the want of large
quadrupeds thousands of the lower orders were
employed as beasts of burden in conveying
the maize cotton hides and other commodities
sent from the more remote provinces to the
capital in paymsnt of tribute.
The empire of Peru at the time when it was
inx-aded by the Spaniards extended above fif
teen hundred miles along the Pacific Ocean
and had attained to even a greater degree 01
civilization than Mexico. According4thc
accounts communicated by its own tradrwfat.
inrl hr :i snocics of literature consisting ot
knotted cords the country was originally peo
pled by ignorant savages who struggled ior
acs with the evils incidental to that condition.
At length a man and woman of majestic lorm
and clothed in decent garments appeared on
the banks of the lake Titiaca representing
themselves as children of the sun who had
been sent by their beneficient parent to instruct
ami rccLiim the inhabitants of the earth. With
the aid of a few of the neighboring tribes Man-
co Canac and Mama Occollo for such were
the names of these strangers founded the city
of Cuzco and established a government which
was gradually extended over the more remote
provinces. ;uanco oapac insiiutii-u im; men
in agriculture and oilier useiui ans; winie ms
consort taught the women to spin and weave.
He afterwards csiaoiisneu iuws uj nunuuic
administration of civil and religious affairs was
regulated. The children of this mystenous
pair had married each other m order to pre-
serve their divine nature from admixture with
that of men. and twelve generations in succes
sion had now ruled over me erniwe. ucing
esteemed as children of the Sun the chief object
of worship among the Peruvians their govern
ment hart assumed the cnaracter 01 a pure meo-
cracy. The Inca as the monarch was termed
was obeyed not only on account of his appa-
rent and temporal sovereignty but as the mes
senger of heaven "is messengers were cve-
l i-ij whore treated with reverence: and his sub
jects of highest rankcver appeared in his pres
ence WllUOUia ouiucu mioii men suuuiucia. ua
an emblem of their servtU(jei and willingness
to bear whatever the inca cas pleased to im
pose. All miraciions ui wc-w were punisn-
ed capitally as implying a kind 0f blasphemy
against the" decrees of the deity. This despot-
ism however and this severity me with such
perfect acauiosceuMuat .u. u-iueiuLd
-:. ne hand become tyrannical no-.did the
people grow fierce under a sense of wring.
Their religion was ot a mild cnaracter eing
directed only to such natural objects as inspire
. " ..... i
feelings of gratitude and admiration suet as
the heavenly bodies. Under its genial inLu-
ence they conducted war in a spirit more In-
Kmanc than even the polished nations of Ei-
rope taking those whom they subdued unrer
their protection and admitting them to a par-
ticipation of all the advantages enjoyed by
. themselves.
All tbelana's capable of cultivation were di--ided
into three shares one of which:was devo-
ted to the support of religion another to the
government while the third and largest was
reserved for the maintenance of the people
among whom it was parcelled out Neither
individuals nor communities had a right of ex-
clusive property in the portion set apart for
their use. They possessed it only for a year
at the expiration of which a new division was
made in proportion to the rank the number
and the exigencies of each family. All those
Jands were cultivated by the joint industry of
the community. The people summoned by a
proper olucer repaired in a body to the heids
and performed their common task while songs
and musical instruments cheered them to their
labor. 'By this singular distribution of terri
tory" says Dr. Robertson" as well as by the
'mode of cultivating it the idea of a common in
terest and of mutual subserviency was con
tinually inculcated bach individual felt bis
vuiiiiecuun wiiu muse niuuuu uiui uuu uc
that he depended on their friendly aid for what
increase he was to reap.'' There was never
theless a gradation of ranks terminating with
a body of slaves as numerous and as degraded
cs in Mexico.
In Peru agriculture was carried on with
more skill and to a greater extent than in
Mexico; and there was accordingly a greater
abundance of food. The people were ac-
quainted with both the arts of manuring and of
irrigation. In turning up the soil for secdr
which ras done by a kind of wooden mattoc
both exe wereemployed. Their houses es-
jiectall.lhose in the higher and colder regions
were superior to the hovels of Mexico; and
their-temples and other public edifices were
.xtensive and of massive and elegant form.
;Two;rods wtuch extended turougn uw icngiu
cpttftliT were equally wondcrmi monu
ments of the power of the Incas by whose or-
dars they were constructed. The one was con-
ducted through the interior and mountainob
country the other through the plains on the
rrnd W were enrnrised"' 83VS Baron
Humbolt "to find in this place and at heights
which greatly surpass the top of the peak ol
Teneriffe. the magnificent remains of a road
constructed by the lncas of Peru. This cause-
r linvi rth fr.sionp mnv be compared-
to the finest Roman roads I have seen in Italy struction of rail roads or the opening of canals
France or Spain; it is perfectly straight and 0f ambition fordistinction in fashion inliter-
COMMUNICATIONS.
For the Saa Luis Advocate.
PARENTAL RESPONSIBILITY.
It is not to be expected that this article will
be read by those whose whole time and atten-
tion and efforts are absorbed by the claims of
politics or speculation in trade of public im-
provements 'such as city buildinjr the con-
keeps the same direction for six or eight thou- at(jre or -n varby those Wn0f being married
nnn metres . ne oreins uuiuaj .- ... . . . ..
:;"i -l .i...lirt. nfn chain Of moun- nave no cmuren or oeing single epei-i .cvc.
i-t-u iiii iicii uiuiiK liiu anu v
ains like the Andes a vast labor must nave 10 ui-aumu uie conjugui or paremui reiuuon
een incurred in reducing eminences ana uiungy bhakers or those who anticipating the
ip hollows. At various stages were piuceu heavenly state claim to be as the angels thus
tore houses for the retresnmeni 01 - ahrnfratinr the coniinrnl. nntl of ennrse. the na-
nd his attendants. Dr. Robertson jusuy oo- . . .. u uL
u u.-. ui.i.. :j . rentnl relation in a word hv tbnsn who have
nrtrrc lhn at 1 ip lime Wlien I le ouauwiuo . . -j
ered Pei-u no kingdom in Europe could boast no children to care for ; or having them care
f nnv work of nublic utility that could be com- not 0 know or to annrcciate the resnonsibili-
pared with the great roads formed by the In-tieSi whicn such a reiat;oninvoives. The very
cas. The rivers which crossed these ways j;ol.ni .
were passed in the high grounds by means 01 ........ .... ... .
suspension bridges formed of ozier ropes and all.such that this is a subject -in which they
in the lOW country by IloaiS suppneo nui uinjiui mciiwum ui icuai leei no IIIUWSl. unc
... ..... . i -:i- Tli . . ......
with paddles but wun masts anu auiia. "auogctneroutof their line of action.
Peruvians were expert artificers in gold and Bjt jt . d ft . . s:ncerel
"IWnfclovo their children-who do really consult
neiits anu aio mclaj anu ii. ttie maKing o. . . . '
A-arlike instruments. . hcr own and ter children's real interests as
Tarkms opinions have been entertained' re-well as those who expect to become parents.
nectinff the oricin of the partial civilization with lbs view of Hnlinnrintrilipir vn ionnn.-
ound in these ancient American nations but d in h . usefulness will
he question is not perhaps capable of being i j . "ai-u"-s "'"
definitely settled. Humboldt the latest and and ponder; and profit by the truths I shall
nost industrious enquirer endeavors to provc.--"-."ui 10 unioiu anu eniorce. l begin with
rom resemblances in their language persona a maxim of domestic government left us by
ispect institutionsrand popular traditions tcthe same insired w;sdonl vvliicli has furnished
hose of various nations in the eastern parts o. ... . ....
Vsia that the light of civilization must have"3 """ -l'il'- 's .or our previous
een carried thence into America by Behring suJiiSiii5i . .
wtraits where a constant intercourse subsists at " The roj nml reproof rivc wisdom but a child left
his day between the inhabitants of the various mmse11 w '" "nS 's Vcms to shame."
. .. -- -. . . . . -
continents. But in eighty-three American Ian i his maxim contains two general and most
tuages only one hundred and seventy wordsjmportant truths which we think we may cx-
nave been found in which any resemblance tOprcss thus: If parents are diligent and perse-
Asiatic words of similar signification could be ff fa
said to exist while the other resemblances . . .
I .. .'hnic tint tit ir (n (limi nlnliltAn n t-wl linnnnt nrJ
seem to be only such as might arise by accident"-" ""- " ""- """'"i ""-i uu
under the influence of a common human nafaithful in the discharge of their whole duty as
iture. If the originators ot .Mexican ana i eruparents ; they have a nsht to expect success
ian civilization left Europe at a time et0 expect that their children will 2rov up icfse
Iiii !. ;ii i.r. l. !.:.... . .i. i.. i
."ui iiij iii ut uiL-aaiiin u u(iu&i;i e& iu
tucir parents nnd to the world. While on the
contraryif parents neglect their duty to their
children especially such duties as are empti-
ed in the proper use of the ' rod and reproof
if because the use ot such means of securing
such an object may be in some respects disa-
rceablc they disregard their obligation to em-
BL
A
inotihihnnc nc til OCA nnTinTl
possessed were in existence wiry did they not
also bring a knowledge of money of the use
of iron of mortar in building and many other
serviceable devices; which have been in vogue
in the old world since a period long antecedent
to the existence of laws and regulations re-
sembling those found in the two American em-
pires? Upon the whole in the case of Mexico
at least the arguments for a separate origin of
civilization are the stiongest With all its im-
iprovements upon savage life we cannot fail to
remark in that country a strong resemblance
in religion customs and even in matters of civ-
il polity to the surrounding nations of barba-
riansthe resemblance which the apple bears
to the crab. The original type was still it
may be said conspicuous hajring been only
cultivated into something better not altered by
the engrafting of a new stock. Of Peru it is
impossible to speak so decisively. The tradi-
tion respecting the pair of civilizing strangers is
so distinct and refers to a time so recent it
was. .o strikingly supported by the existence of
their decendants and the reverence paid to
them the civilization moreover of the Peru-
vians was of a nature so unlike that of Mexi-
co and every thing which we can conceive to
have awakened naturally in the savage breast
that we can hardly doubt that the improved
ideas of the nation came from a foreign source
though how or whence they came it would be
diihcul: to surmise. One thing seems clear
that the illustrious pair were no recent expor-
tation from either Europe or Asia as if they
had been so they must have brought a knowl-
edge of the use of iron of the arch in building
and other ancient arts of which the Peruvians
were found to be destitute!
The decendants of the aboriginal Mexicans
still display the ingenuity of their race in con-
structing miniature figures in which the faces
are eitht r made of wax or of cloth. We have
seen an extensive range of specimens in the
possession of a gentleman residing in Edin-
burgh to whom they were sent by a kinsman
settled in Mexico. Those formed exclusively
of cloth are the. most felicitous as representa-
tions of the objects though it might be suppos-
ed that they would not be the easiest of execu-
tion. The faces of the.young are formed of a
cloth slightly tinctured to represent the dusky
red complexion of America while the old seem
to require a much more ding' color. Some of
the latter present singularly lively portraitures
of the human visage; every wrinkle and pecu-
liarity of expression being given in a space of
less than an inch. A scolding old virago a
cripple beggar and a stout middle-aged wom-
an who is rallying a pair of young lovers
seemed to us peculiarly happy pictures. It
ought to be mentioned that the eyes arc repre-
sented by beads.
t Those who wish to make farther-enquiries
respecting the ancient Mexicans and Peruvi.J
ans may be- directed to Robettson's History
of America and Humboldt's Researches con-
cerning the Institutions and-Monuments of the
Ancient Inhabitants of America.
Squinting. This disfigurement is now ren-
dered curable by a simple operation on the
muscles of the eye unattended with danger to
that organ; a discovery made by professor
DietTenbach of Berlin who has successfully
treated a number of cases. The Medical Ga-
zelle of the 17th of April gives a description of
the same operation lately performed in that
country for the first time with decided success
by Dr. A. Franz a distinguished occulist a
pupil of the above eminent professor and au-
thor of "A Treatise on the Eye." New World.
Errors in Education. " Many a child is
brought to me in my room for a little reward
of a tract &c. Since I began this scrawl a
sharp little girl was brought for this purpose.
She repeated a short poem extremely well. 1
then said ' Now I must examine what you
know of the Bible. Who was Abraham?'
After some hesitation she answered I think
he was an Exeter manl'" Life of II. More.
So youNc so wise. rThe English earl of.
.of pompous notoriety and parsimonious
celebrity superintends personally the produce
.r Vtn J..I.-OT mm.? nnt iinfi-pntlpnlltr cjttlc thp mi1r
to the village children with his own hands. One
morning n pretty little girl presented her penny
and her pitcher to his lordship for milk. Pleas-
ed with the appearance of the child he patted
her on the head and gave her a kiss. " Now "
said he "my pretty lass you may-tcjl.as long
as you live that you have been kissedbyan
earl." "Ah! but" replied the child "youhok
the penny though.
bloy them; they have no right to expect any-
thing less than their own shame and their chil-
Iren's ruin. And hence the solemnity of paren-
:al responsibility which we think we do not
exaggerate when we express it in the following
proposition viz:
That parents arc responsible to God to soci-
ity and to their children for the character of
their children and the. nature of the influence
they may exert while they live.
This let it be remembered we lay down as a
-WUVim jl Vj'UJiUUII. 111UI 11 13 11 UV G aiidll
"endeavor to make clear.
First. From the authority with which the
parent is invested by Him from whom both
parent and child derive their being His com.
mand " Train up a child in the wny he should
go" enforces parental duty ; and his promise
"jvhen he is old he will not depart from it" pre-
sents strong encouragement to its faithful dis-
charge. This duty was enforced by positive
precept upon parents in ancient times and
with an authority equally binding with that
which enforced personal obligation in all their
religious and social relations. "And these
words which I command thee shall be in Ihy
heart; and thou shall teach them diligently un-
to thy children.''
It was implied in that beautiful enconium
pronounced upon the fidelity- of the Patriarch
"For I know him that he will command his
children and his household after him. and they
shall keep the way of the Lord to do justice and
judgment." It is implied in the fifth command.
ment of the decalogue " Honor thy father and
thy mother thul thy days may be long" &c.
"but wicked men" it is declared "shnll not
live.out half their days.1'
And the truth of our proposition is very clear-
ly asserted in that startling message from Hea-
jven to the pious but too indulgent Eli by the
rvouiniui propnci oamuci: "l'or i nave told
liirn that I will judge his house for ever for the
iniquity which he knowcth ; for his sons have
made themselves vile and he restrained not."
e had only remonstrated " O my sons why
o ye this great wickedness ?" when he ought
o have restrained them by the strong hand of
aternal authority. But the old man had been
eficient in his domestic government. The con-
cqaence was the father was "brought to
hame the sons were brought to ruin and the
influence of their ungodly lives was felt for
twenty long years of national calamity.'' For
this we have the authority of scripture history
shall parents then claim to be exempt from
responsibility to God who has clothed them
With so much power over their growing off-
spring? who has invesicd them with preroga-
tives only less than absolute for restraining
Jind controling the wayward propensities of the
young and pliable minds of their children ?
Second. From the almost absolute control
which society has given parents over.their chil
drcn it has aright to hold them responsible for
the proper exercise of that control and if
from the neglect or abuse of such power of con
trol their children become curses to society
pught they not to be required to give account
for such neglect? The temporary guardian is
held accountable for any abuse of his trust;
andwhy should not the'natural guardian appre-
ciate his obligation to society for the preroga-
tives conferred in this behalf and be held as
morally if not legally responsible to society
for an abuse of his trust as the guardian in law;
seeing the interests of individuals as well as of
whole communities may oe as scnousiy uueui-
ty who when any of their young people were
detected in the perpetration of crimes against
the public interests punished the parents ol the
youthful criminals holding. the doctrines that
if the parents had done their duty the crime
would not have been committed.
Third. The children themselves are often
deep sufferers from parental unfaithfulness.
And hence the responsibility of parents to their
own children.
The young thief who when under the gal-
lows called his own mother from the crowdi
and while pretending to whisper something to
her bit off her ear saying aloud that if she had
not taught him to steal he would never have
come to an end so disgraceful uttered but a
strong expression of what many a ruined char-
acter feels when in his moments of reflection
he reviews the defects of domestic government
during the time that character was forming.
The want'of timely restraint and affectionate
instruction and counsel and wholesome disci-
pline "'while the tempers were yielding the
passions flexible and the whole mind merely
in its developing and forming state and all
this while it is accessible to no other than pa-
rental influence has often been the occasion of
the wreck of all for which either parent or chil-
dren has hoped in life the source of untold
agony-to many a broken heart and ruined soul;
when it was too late to apply the preventive in-
fluences furnished by God and society and by
the tenderness and power of the parental rela-
tion. For we observe that it te not enough that
parental duty be only partially performed
that the whole business of training be devolved
upon one parent or that both undertake it
but defer its commencement too long or leave
it off too soon or perform it only bjT fits or
partially or pursue it with a wrong temper or
without a proper regard to the end to be accom
plished or if any of the means placed by the.
Creator and society and tli3 circumstances of
the relation be wilfully neglected if the defect
in duty proceed from cherished ignorance or
failure in suitable precepts from inconsistent
example from inconsistancy from want of
proper dependence upon Ilim from whom Com-
eth down every good and perfect gift and from
whom alone success is to be expected failure
in any one of these particulars may result in
disgrace and ruin to the neglected child in
shame to the delinquent parent and in the loss
to society of all the good which but for his per-
verted influence or wasted talents the ruined
ture of the packet and farmers were once more
anticipating good crops.
The Liverpool Cotton Market of the 7th was
fair. Cotton was in good demand and full pri-
ces were obtained. -The sales of the day
amounted to G000 bales of which 1000 Ameri-
can were taken on speculation and 1000 do.
for export.
&w yy)Q 71.
TUESDAV OCTOBER o : : : : : I8tO.
5 Publishers of newspapers who receive this num-
ber of the Ad vocale will confer a favor by placing our
name upon Ihcir exchange list. Those in the U. States
will address their papers to the San Luis Advocate New
Orleans where they will be received and forwarded to
us at this place by our agent. This plan of hnving our
papers sent to us in New Orleans has been adopted to
obviate some difficulties which arise from the inter
change of the Tcxian and U. States mails at that city.
r Roe't. J. Calder of Brazoria is the authorized
agent for the Advocate in Brazoria county.
ItWe are authorized to announce ROB'T.
F. CLEMENT as a candidate for County
Clerk of Brazoria County.
jEWe are authorized to announce WM
G. HILL as a candidate for Sheriff of Brazoria
County at the n2xt election.
JCfWc are authorized to announce ROB'T.
J. CALDER Esq. as a candidate for Sheriff
of Brazoria county at the next election.
By aschooner which arrived lately at Galveston we
have received New Orleans dales to the 2Gth lilt. But
little information of a general nature is contained in
ihcm. Such aswc deemed interesting will be found in
our columns. No -ubseqnent news had been received
from Europe since the intelligence given in our previ
ous number. The New York pnpers.at the lastad vices
were in hourly erpc-tation of the arrival of a packet
from Europe which would bring intelligence of a much
later date than that which has been laid before our read-
ers. The all absorbing subject of thonsht speaking
and acting in the United States i- the approaching pre-
sidential election. M:n women and children all branch-
es of society all trades all arts all professions have
given themselves up to the contest with an ardor a zeal
an abandon without prallcl in the history of that coun-
try. In November neU tne matter will be determined
when we presume the ferment will subside to the puiet
libel of peaceful life and the people will occupy them-
selves in useful vocations. From all we are able to
gather we think Gen. Harrison will be elected almost
beyond a donbt. Vermont has gone for the whig by a
majority ot 10000 votes and has elected a complete
whig congiessional ticket. A large whig meeting re-
presented to consist of a hundred thousand sou! lately
assembled at Bunker Hill. Mr. Webster acted as President.
Fi.onn was selling at from 1 50 to 5 in N. Orleans.
The Columbia -was to have left N. Orleans on ihe 1st
inst. and was expected to arrive ai Galveston on Sunday
last.
child might achieve.
In view of what has been said may we not
discover wherefore there are so many blasted
hopes and wasted talents and desolated
hearts and wretched families and physical
and mental and moral power cursing mankind
in every community? May not very much of
all that afflicts society providential visitations
excepted and these not always belaid to the
account of the unfaithfulness of fathers and
I mothers in this matter ? God and society com
mand parents to take care how they acquit
themselves of the obligations they incur by as-
suming this interesting relation. They both
afford great encouragements to parents by
promises and rewards in case of success. The
relation itself is eminently favorable to success.
The power of natural effection prompting the
parent to consult the best interests of his off-
spring the opportunities of instilling gradually
suitable instructions.as they are needed the
authority by which he is at liberty to enforce
his counsels and precepts the powerful and
efficacious force of consistent example the
pliability and confidence of the little child and
its susceptibility to impressions from the objects
of its confidence its natural thirst for know-
ledge all these are but so many circumstan-
ces' connected with the relation enhancing the
capabilities of the parent for affecting the char-
acter and destiny of the young being who owes
its existence to his instrumentality; and conse-
quently enhancing his responsibility ; and the
neglect of which will add poignancy to the grief
and shame of that parent whose child rushes
madly down the road that leads to infamy and
ruin. THEMIS.
4d in the.one case as in the other ?
He who is not handsome at twenty nor TcaMfcgp(foreagooddealofrea.
strong at thirty nor rich at forty nor wise al gon-JalaTofSrprc we'fear .than many
fifty. ..will- ncver be handsome strong rich ox ' nts jn these days would be willing to allow
. . -. . . - .- ? Tf -...:.:
i-in the practice oi a certain nauuinvi iiiui-
wise.
Correspondence of the. N. O. Bulletin.
New York Sunday Sept. 13 1840.
The packet ship England Captain Waite ar-
rived late last evening bringing us London in-
telligence up to the 7th of August.
The correspondence between the allied pow-
ers had been called for in the English House of
Lords when Lord Palmerson declined giving
any information upon the subject because Jie
snid the treaty was not yet concluded and at
the same time he went on in a long speech to
defend the course pursued by the four powers. .
The Queen of England was to prorogue Par-
liament about the 15th ult. and a state chair
was to be erected near the throne for Prince Al-
bert . J.
The most important news by this arrival is
the still progressing movements of Russia and
the yet burning war spirit of the French. A
rumor had reacnea rngiana irom runs mai
on the night of the 5th of August a steamer had
landed within three miles of UotHogne when
about one hundred men in uniforms ofGener-
nls nnd Colonels came ashore. Some of them
distributed money at the barracks and called
upon the soldiers to join mthe shout ot " lve
Louis Napoleon." The next day two of them
were arrested but it is said that the ground plot
nf an extensive insurrection havinc for its ob
ject the placing of either Louis Napoleon or
his cousin fierre napoieon upon mc uuum-
of Louis Philippe.' This piece of news had
been published insome of the London papers of
the 6th and 7th but with an editorial line rather
rlnnhtino- the truth of the report. The London
Globe appears to imagine that Lord Palmerson
is-'playing a deep game in favor of Prince Lou
ts JNapoieon.
M. Giiizo't and Baron de Bbnrguncey have
been sent from lnep on 'special business to
London supposed to be connected with the
movement of the'nllied powers.
The next important news is the insurrection
of some of the Bbjahs of India who I wrote
you some time since were only wanting the
opportunity to.throw.off the yoke of England.
Several of these have risen and offered their
service to The Russian commanaani ai vninu.
At jjhhT place' the Russian army are 16000
strong.and daily increasing.
The weather in England had been' very ex-
cellent for several days proceeding the depar-
There has been no change in the value of Texas
money.
Locis NArOLEO.v has attempted to get up a revolution
in France and failed. He is now a prisoner. His plan
seemed to have more of temerity in it than any thing
else.
Asphalt urn or Compact Bitumen.
Wc frequently see specimens of this mineral sub-
stance while riding along the beach washed up appa-
rently from ihe bottom of ihe ocean by its never ceasing
waves. We understand thai large quantities of it arc
found on Aransas bay quantities sufficient to be used
as an article of commerce. In the Island of Trinidad
thercjs a lake of this substance three miles in circum-
tertnee and of unknown thickness. Byboiling it with
grease oi common pitch it is tendered useful for the pay-
ing of ships and is said to protect them from the worms.
It goes by the name of Sca-icax among the people on the
coast; but this U a mistake 5rit:ri.r or Maltha is a
whitish substance of the complexion and consistent
of tallow. Asphalturz or Compact Bitumen is of a shin-
in" black color solid and brittle with a conch otdal
fracture. The ancients employed bitumen in building
their houses: Hcrodotustellsus that the walls tf Bay-
Ion were cemented with bitumen which gave them
unusual soli dity. T"
Ths District Court commenced its session in Gal-
veston on Monday last (yesterday) and it is to be hop
ed that the good people of that district will not give oc-
casion to the learned and honorable Judge of the court
to make application of his lucid exposition of the dot-
trine of contempt wMi which he lately favored the world
through the columns of the Civilian. Afler the sentle
hint he has given and the lights he has furnished them
it would bs highly criminal indeed for them ever tocrr
again and if the court is not treated with most awful re-
spect they arc worthy of most condign punishment.
The Lord High Chaficcllor in England is said to be
the keeper of the King's conscience. Perhaps the brig
at Galveston might be made to play a similar pan and
could be converted into the depository of thecourts dig-
nity. As the honorable Gentleman has furnished the
rules of a decorum and propriety which should govern
suitors lawyers officers and attendants upon court it
is a pity he had not also laid down some rnles for the gui-
tnnrp of those who are' upon the Bench. While his
hand was in he might have done it. Perhaps it might
have been as necessary. And more deference might
have been paid his opinions thereon as'he then would
have shown himseir master of the whole subject. But
as he has failed herein through inadvertence or the
press of business we (albeit unused to the character of
arbiter clcganltaruii) or lecturer on manners; wm
make the essay and give the great portraiture of the ju-
dicial office drawn by the most illustrious of Philoso-
phars.
"Patience and gravity of bearing are an essential
part of justice ; and an ovcrspeaking judge is no well
tuned cymbal. Judges ought to be more learned than
witty ; more reverend than plausible and more advis
ed than confident. It is no grace to a J udge to una mat
which he might hare heard in due time from the bari
or to sljow quickness of conceit in cutting oft evidence
or counsel too short or to prevent 'information by ques-
tions though pertinent." Bacon's essays "Of Judica-
ture." Wc will add to this a picture of the dignified and im
posing spectacle presented by a court of justice admin
istered by men ot powerful understanaings oi great ex-
perience and of deep and extensive legal knowledge.
"Observe the dignifird calmness and patience with
which counsel are listened to verbiose even and tire-
some as occasionally thev arc; the judges not deranging
their thoughts or the order in which the argument has
been with much anxictj and care prepared ior them
beforehand by incessant suggestions of crude and has-
ty impiessions but suspending theirjudgeraent till ful-
lv nossessed of the case brought before them by one
whom his client has thought fit to intrust with the con-
ductof his case. They never interfere but in extieme
cases when'lhe time of the court is beingplalnly wast-
ed bv loose irrelevent maUer. Their demeanor is char
acterised bv crave courtesy and forbearances and any
occasional interference is received by the bar with pro-
found respect and anxious attention. Never is to be
seen in any of our.courts the startling spectacle of per-
sonal collision between judge and counsel each en-
deavoring to rival the other in the exhibition of acute-
nessandengenuity. On the contrary a thoughtful ob-
server of what goes on in any of oar courts will believe
that our judges have considered the truth of that s-aylng
of Seaeca Nil sapitntitc tdiotius jccmi.se xnao.
Note: The learned judge may tianslate the above
sentence and place it as a set off to his famous qui hxret
in Uittrakccret i cartitt translation.
Two Bait IudUDKB lost.
The.Lord William Bcntiek from London and'thc
Lord Cistlereagh from KaTrackwere wrecked off Bom-
bay harbor onthc 17th June.v rOj't of 550 souls only 50
were saved. ""
Our Navy.
Ii is stated in the Austin Sentinel that our navy will
be ordered out on a more effective cxpidition immedi-
ately on their return from their present objectless cruhe.
We hope this may be true ; we think that anyaction
on the part of our Goverment will be beneficial if it
would alter our present anamolous state a state of
war without exacting its rights and of peace with the
calamities of war a kind of Janui-Iikc-compon'rid of
character on the one side grasping with furious
clutch the thunderbolts of war and on the other most
beseechingly holding forth the olive branch of peace
and manifesting by our rnidcterminedness tlie want
of capacity for either. If we would at once assume a
beligerent attitude and act with the spirit with which
the revolutionary struggle was commenced it would
do more to remove the difficulties between ourselves
and Mexico than this hermophroditestateof real inert-
ness and pretended forbearance would affect in the
lapse of ages. AH half-way measures are bad ; worse
than any determined action in any given way; wc
should do one thing or another. We shoud be at peace
or war: war if we are capable of maintaining our in-
dependence and existence as a nation and peace and
submission if we are not. Wc have procured a navy
at to us an enormous expense officered manned and
provisioned it at still further expense; and since theirpnr-
chase for the greater part of ihe time ourships have lay
"rotting by the walls." and are at length sent forth.sim-
ply to sail about upon the ocean without object aim or
purpose. For weare informed theirinstruclions were
only to give the Federalists at Yucatan the protection
and encouragementoftheirpecst-nceand to make what
ever observations they could upon the coast of Mexico
as they sailed along it: butwerc particularly directed to
commit nc hostile acts to exact no beligeTi-ut.rifjrit
andtoavail themselves of none of theadvantages which
the law of nations give to our assumed character of a
state at war. Butsomething more than this N necessa-
ry to be done if we hope to derive any good from our
very ample preparations. Nay the Government must
do more if it would escape censure. The President
has thought proper for reasons no doubt sufficient to
himself but which are not known to the public to dis-
regard a law of the last Congress directing him to dis-
band the navy excepting so much as necessary for the
revenue service. And it will icquire some brilliant
act some achievment which will do credit to the na
tional character bring honor aye and profit to the
country to extenuate this disobedience to an impera-
tive command. This we think can be done. Give
the navy authority to act and we (ear not the result so
far as it effects the connlr' ; nor should the President
so far as it effects himself. Send them forth as armed
warriors of the deep clothed with power to avail them-
selves of the rights which the common consent of the
civilized world concede to beligerent nations; and we
entettain the tirmbeleif that the consequences will vin-
dicate the wisdom of ihe mcarure. The navy will de-
fray its own expenses; honor will redoun to the conn-
try ; and the Executive reap applause where now he
may expect censure.
It is a commonly received opinion in this country
and even with men of high intelligence that the (lag
gives the character to Ihe goods ; in other word'that
free ships make free goods and that goods on board a
neutral ship under a neutral flag are not subject to
capture; and that as the whole of the Mexican com-
merce is carried on by foreign and neutral ships there
would be no chance for our navy to make prizes ex-
cept what might be obtained by the capture of vessels
engaged in the coasting trad? which would be small
and unimportant in amount. But the law of nations is
not thus laid down. Free shipsdo not make freegoods;
but on the contrary all goods found in a neutral ves-
sel belonging or consigned to a citizen of a hostile
country or to an alien resident therein is good and
lawful prize to the other beligerent. Thisisso declar-
ed by the highest tribunals in the United States and in
Europe and Is no longer a matter of donbt. It has
been the custom of many of countries of late particu-
larly the United States to make this principle the pro-
tective character of the flag a subject of treaty stipula-
tion. And Texas in the two treaties which she has
entered into with foreign powers has also subscribed
to the policy. But the most powerful and most com-
mercial nation in the world Great Britain has hereto
fore refused her assent to the doctrine and maintained
the reverse by the force of argument and arms. It will
be remembered perhaps that about the middle of the
last century the allied powers of the Continent attempt-
ed to force Great Britain into the adoption of this to
them fcvorite measure. It was during this discussion
that the celebrated reply of the British minister to the
Prussian memorial was published; a document which
for historical research clearness of analysis and co-
gency of reasoning has been equalled by few and sur-
passed by none in the history of diplomatic correspon-
dence. In this celebrated state paper after a full re-
view of the history of the rise and progress of the law
of nations; the position which the British cabinet oc-
cupied in ihe t-ontreversy was fully demonstrated lohave
been sustained by the concurrentsen.se andpractice of
all nations whose opinions or conduct were entitled
to respect ; and the wisdom of the rule was vindicated
by an array of argument almost irresistible.- In this
contest England was victorionsand since that time the
matter has been considered beyond dispute. ' Tts true
the United States in her last war with that power.made
her opposition to the legitimate consequence of llmdoc-
trine and its necessary adjunct the rights of search
a ground of complaint which with other matters were
referred to the arbitration of war. But whatever im-
portance should be attached to the practice of the Uni-
ted States and howsoever much we might be disposed to
defer-to her opinions it is enough to say that she tacit-
ly abandoned this position- on the adjustment of the
whole difficulty with her great rival on the seas. By
the treaty of Ghent this question with all others with
which a resort to arms were deemed necessary were
passed orcrin silence. IN'ay more at the time this war
was waging the admiraltycourts of the United States
m its administration of the laws acted npon this view
of ihe matter and seem ed neve? to have" considered it a
question for doubt. And it is suggested by the ablest
commentator on American laws Chancellor Kent that
the United States will departfrenn the policy hitherto
advocated in their diplomacy on this subject when they
shall have experienced the demands of more extensive
and varied commeicial regulations than those which
are at present necessary; and that they will unite with
England in sustaining the doctrine found so necessary to
maintain the ramified interests of that great commer-
cial and enlightened nation. But be that as it may it is
now conclusively settled that the doctrine contended
for in former contests by the British Government is
the'established law of nation which the private stipula-
tions and treaties of individual nations can neither alter
modify or vary.
The foreign ccmmcrcc of Mexico is extensive and
important. InlS-34 it appears from an exhibitmadeby
the Mexican Government that the exports into the
country legally passed through the Custom House at
Vera Cruz and Alvarado some 60 or 70 miles to the
Southcast.amonntedtomorethan 812000000. Ofthis
ai nnn non was from the Unitcd-States and 53000000
perhaps from France.-lcaviqg importations to the
amount of 35000000 fromEngland and the Continental
powers of Europe with whom we have no treaties. But
besides this amount it is estimated that at that period
fully 5000000 was smuggled in by the Contraband
trade. The importation from England in 1831 amount-
ed to S3500000 exclusive ot the goods shipped 07 .the
London Company in compliance with the loan effected
by them: we presume this amount is equalled by the
present importations. These goods are all or the prin -cipal
par'tof thcro consigned to Mexicans orta foieign-
ersroidinglhere; who fiom their residence.take with
all other nations the character of the country where
they resile and are subject to its relations; and of
course the goods so situated are subject toseftareby
ihe encmv.sndaregood andlawfulprixe.irpeaiie estab-
lished dectrin that the goeds as well as ikesoip.
-
&.
. V
-.- - tli -tj.'
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Durnett, S. J. San Luis Advocate (San Luis, Tex.), Vol. 1, No. 6, Ed. 1, Tuesday, October 6, 1840, newspaper, October 6, 1840; San Luis, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth79933/m1/2/: accessed May 4, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting The Dolph Briscoe Center for American History.