weight will be less than the French, English, er American brass guns of the same calibre." The lieutenants who assisted in the examination and proof, received a military education at West Point. They pointed the guns, and in 150 discharges never once missed the objects they aimed atwhich were, first, empty barrels, 2d, a joist, and 3d, crow bur. A perfection hardly to have been expected. The distance 150 yards. The Public Lands, LETTER IL the Russian government, the chief port, Odessa, 12 pounders of iron for field service, of which the has become the granary of that quarter of the world. In the last year, no less than 1360 ships cleared at this port, 846 of which were large ves sels; viz. 407 Russian, 258 English, 101 Austrian, 25 French, 23 Turkish, 15 Swedes-not one of the United States. Tangarock, at the head of the sea of Ash, is also a very important place, and is the great depot of the over-land trade with China, &c. Nicoleff and Cherson are also represented to be improving very rapidly, and carry on a very handsome commerce. The neighborhood of the Black Sea will probably become among the most important and interesting of all the countries in the CHILLICHOTHE, AUGUST 4th, 1217. Russian monarchy, having great advantages of soil and climate, and watered by several great rivers therto prevented me from continuing the series of DEAR SIR-An unusual press of business has hiThe Turks command the entrance-but it is letters, concerning "the western country,” which thought they would not deny it to the American was commenced in the No. of your "Weekly Regis. flag, if it were asked, as whatever relations we ter" for the 12th of April last-(see vol. 12, p. 97.) have had with them have been friendly; and indeed, And it is partly by way of relaxation from more arthey will be little disposed to quarrel with Alex duous employment, that I now take up my pen to ander, who, if not checked, will himself very soon give you, as promised in my list, "some account of command it; he has full as much ambition, with the several systems of the public surveys, and of the more policy, perhaps, than Napoleon, as is seen land offices established for the sale of public lands from his stretching his immense power in every di- in the states of Ohio and Indiana, and the territories rection, though he rules a territory far greater in of Michigan, Illinois and Missouri." surface than all Europe. If his present designs The first body of public lands which was survey. should not extend to a driving of the Turks beed, is that which is now called "the Old Seven Ranyond the Dardennalles, it will at least be exertedges," lying in the eastern part of this state. This to support the commerce of this highly favored part of his dominions, and the Turks will hardly refuse egress and ingress, as he wishes to have it. Cannon Foundery. system of surveys was made in pursuance of an ordinance of congress of 20th May 1785. It commences on the N. W. side of the Ohio river, where the western line of the state of Pennsylvania crosses it; and is bounded on the north by a line run due west from that point to the distance of forty two miles; on the The New York papers gives us a very interesting west by a line drawn thence due south to the Ohio account of a new and extensive cannon foundery, river; and on the south and east by the Ohio river. lately established by Peter Townsend, esq. on Cham- This tract is laid off into seven ranges of townships, ber's Creek, near Newburg Ninety tons of cannon, which ranges are run parallel with the aforesaid the first ever manufactured in the state of New said state line, and are designated by numbers, proYork, after undergoing a thorough examination by gressively, westward from it. The townships are Major Dalaba and Lieutenants Simason and Tho-numbered, progressively likewise, from south to mas, were proved in a very severe manner, and the whole quantity passed the ordeal. The charges were as follows, the first for the 18's, the other for he 24 pounders Powder. 1st. Charge, 9 lb. 2 Balls 18 lb. each, and Wads. ་ do. 2 do. do, 3 do. 1st. Charge, 12 lb. 2 balls, each 24 lb. 2 Wads. "Mr. Townsend in the course of conversation observed, that he intended shortly to make some light north, commencing with the first fractional township on the Ohio. In all the townships in the old seven ranges, the sections are numbered northwardly in successive tiers, commencing at the S. E. corner of the township, as in the following example: NILES' WEEKLY REGISTER PUBLIC LANDS. 407 ver; thence up the main branch of the said river, to to the Little Miami river. The sections are numthe place where the Indian boundary crosses the bered in the same manner that they are in the "old same; thence along the said boundary line to the seven ranges." Tuscarawas branch of the Muskingum river, at the The fourth system of surveys in order, is that crossing place above fort Lawrence; thence up said which lies between the Great Miami river, on the river to the point where a line run due west from cast, and the old Indian boundary line, running from the place of beginning will intersect said river; the mouth of Kentucky river to Fort every, on thence along the line so run to the place of begin the west, For the survey of this district, the state ning. This tract was appropriated by act of con-line between Ohio and Indiana, which is run due gress, passed 1st June 1796, for satisfying land war- north from the mouth of the Great Miami river, is rants granted for military services in the United constituted the "first principal meridiun;" and the States army. It was laid off and surveyed into town ranges are run parallel with, and numbered from it, ships of five miles square, and located by the hold eastwardly to the Great Miami, and westwardly to ers of warrants, agreeably to the rule prescribed the Indian boundary line. The old plan of numbering by the law. The ranges in this district are desig- the townships northwardly from the Ohio, or southnated by progressive numbers from the eastern ern boundary, is continued in this district also. The boundary, westward; and the townships are num-sections are numbered in the manner at present bered in like manner, from the southern boundary pursued, and described in the letter before refertowards the north. In pursuance of the act of ed to. congress of the 1st of March, 1800, the secretary When the old "Vincennes tract,”. (so called) in of the treasury designated, by to', fifty quarter-the state of Indiana, was about to be surveyed, townships of the land remaining unlocated, to- it became necessary to change the mode of num gether with the unlocated fractional quarter town-bering the ranges and townships, because the tract ships, to be "reserved for satisfying warrants grant- lay in the interior of the territory, unconnected with ed to individuals for their military services." Those any other public lands; and had no natural or per quarter townships and fractional quarters, have manent boundary from which the surveys could been subdivided into lots of one hundred acres each, the greater part of which have been located. The remainder of the lands in this district have been surveyed into sections of 640 acres, and offer ed for sale as other public lands are. Each town ship, therefore, contains only 25 sections, which are thus numbered: 5 4 3 2 1 6 7 8 9 15 14 13 12 16 17 18 19 25 commence; and because (anticipating the acquist tion and survey of the Indian lands separating this tract from prior cessions) it would have been inpracticable to pursue the old plan without carrying into those subsequent surveys a confusion and per. plexity, which it was very prudent and desirable to avoid. A plan of survey was therefore devised by that valuable officer, colonel Mansfield, the then surveyor-general of the U. S. which not only avoided this perplexity and confusion, but remedied the defects of the old system, which experience and reflection had pointed out to be considerable. This plan is the same that is described in my last (see Weekly Register vol. 12, page 97) and is the same that is pursued in all the public surveys since executed under the direction of the surveyor gene. ral. A standard line, designated as the "Second principal meridian," was run through the eastern end of the "Vincennes tract," which meridian being continued south, in the survey of subsequent cessions, struck the Ohio about three miles below the mouth of Little Blue river. "A base-line," at right angles from the meredian, has been run eastwardly to the western line of "Charles' Grant," and, The lands lying west of the old seven ranges, east passing the northeasterly line of said grant, it stikes of the Scioto, and south of the military tract, have the Ohio river about a mile above the most easterbeen surveyed into ranges and townships in the man-ly corner thereof. Continued west from the same ner in which the seven ranges have been; the ran- point on the meridian, the base line crosses the ges being numbered westward in continuation there. Wabash river about three miles above its junction of, and the townships northward from the Ohio.-with White river; and, crossing the fourteenti The sections, however, are numbered on the plan range west of the second principal meridian, passes now pursued; an example of which was given in my into the next system of ranges and townships. From last letter. The surveys have been continued in the second principal meridian, the ranges have been like manner through the lands lying north of the old laid off parallel therewith, eastwardy to the old seven ranges, and the military tract, to the south Indian boundary running from the mouth of Kenern line of the "Connecticut Western Reservation," tucky river to Fort Recovery, and to the state line on the 41st degree of north latitude. of Ohio; and westwardly to the western line of the Proceeding westward, the third system of public fourteenth range, west, and the Wabash river south surveys, is the tract lying between the Great and of where it crosses said western line: the ranges Little Miami rivers. This tract was surveyed shortly are numbered eastward and westward from the after the "seven ranges," and partakes of its errors principal meridian; and the townships are nume in an accumulated degree. The ranges, contrary to bered northward and southward from the base-line. all other public surveys, are run east and west, and This extensive system embraces all the public are designated by numbers progressively northward lands in the state of Indiana, except the small strip from the Ohio river to the Indian boundary. The lying ast of the last mentioned Indian boundary townships are numbered eastwardly from the Great line. It also embraces so much of the territory of Illinois as lies east of the western boundary of the See Weekly Reg. vol. 12, page 98. fourteenth range west. 408, NILES WEEKLY REGISTER- SATURDAY, AUGUST 25, 1817 The sixth system of public surveys, is that where-ment directed a suspension, and finally a relin in a standard line run north from the confluence of quishment of the surveys; and, in lien thereof, two the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, is constituted the million of acres were appropriated in the terri othird principal Meridian." The base line belong; ries of Illinois and Missouri. All the lands lying ing to the last described system, is continued between the military district and the eastern bount through this, from the 14th range west of the 2nd dary of the territory, were subsequently directed to principal meridian. The base line crosses the 3rd be surveyed, and is now nearly completel. This principal meridian at about 61 miles, and strikes tract extends from near the mouth of the river the Mississippi at 121, about 8 or 10 miles below Raisin, on Lake Erie, to the outlet of Lake Huron, St. Louis, in Missouri Ter. and about 30 mites be- bordering on the river and lake St. Clair, Detroit low the mouth of the Missouri river. In this sys.river and Lake Erie; and embraces a fine tract of tem, the ranges and townships are numbered, pro- country, containing nearly a million and a half acres. gressively, from the meridian and the base line re- The surveyor-general expects to have the whole spectively, in the manner described in the last sys district completed in time to be brought into marevery exertion for that purpose. tem; the 11th range east of the 3rd principal me. ket during the ensuing autumn; and is now making ridian is closed on the 14th west of the 2nd. There are in the state of Ohio, two large tracts of The seventh system is unconnected with any other, and was formed for the survey of the army land, to the soil of which the United States have no bounty lands appropriated by congress in Illinois claim. First-The lands lying between the little Ter. This system of surveys lies between the Mis. Miami and the Scioto rivers, reserved by the state sissippi and Illinais rivers, and comniences at their of Virginia for satisfying military and warrants, junction; from which point a standard line has been granted to the "Virginia troops on the continental Pa north, called the fourth "principal meridian." establishment." Second-The "Connecticut westThe course of the Illinois river at its junction with ern reservation," lying in the northeast quarter of the Mississippi, is nearly east, the meridian there. the state, bounded on the south by a line drawn fore immediately crosses it, and continues on the from the western line of the state of Pennsylvania, saine side to the end of 72 miles, when it recrosses on the 41st degree of north latitude; and on the to the western side. From this point, the base west by a line run northwardly, parallel with, and at Irae is run west to the Mississippi, about 52 miles a distance of 120 miles from the aforesaid state conformably to laws and regulations adopted by the distant. A out 2,500,000 acres have been survey-line. Those tracts have been surveyed and located ed in this district for military bounties. An account of the several land offices, which I states, respectively, which claim them. proposed to give in this communication, would Yours, &c. swell it to too great a length; I must, therefore, reserve that subject for my next. The eighth system is for the survey of the public lands in the territory of the Missouri. A standard line, the "fih principal meridian," has been run north from the mouth of the Arkansas river, which meridian crosses the base line at 51 miles; the Missouri river at 318 miles, about 35 miles west of St. Louis, and strikes the Mississippi river a few miles above the mouth of the Illinois. The base. line is run west from the mouth of the St. Francis river, and crosses the meridian at about 27 miles; and strikes the Arkansas river at about 85 miles. Between the Arkansas and St. Francis rivers, there has been two million acres of army bounty lands appropriated and surveyed. One million and a half more, has, I believe, been surveyed in the vicinity of St. Louis, on both sides of the Missouri river. Through this extensive traet, the ranges and townships are designated by progressive numbers, from the above described principal meridian and baseline, respectively. Mr. H. NILES, Editor of the Weekly Register. High blood-"legitimacy." S. W. "During the troubles in the reign of Charles I. a country girl came to London, in search of a place herself to carrying out beer from a brew-house, and was one of those called tub women., as a servant maid, but not succeeding, she applied The brewer, observing a well looking girl in this low occupation, took her into his own family as a ser vant, and after a while married her; but he died while she was yet a young woman, and left a large fortune. The business of the brewery was dropMr. Hyde, as a gentleman of skill in the law, to The ninth, and last system of public surveys which ped; and the young woman was recommended to remains to be described, is that formed for the sur- settle her husband's affairs. Hyde (who was aftervey of the territory of Michigan. When the two wards the Earl of Clarendon) finding the widow's millions of acres of army bounty lands, appropri- fortune very considerable, married her. Of this ated in this territory, was directed to be surveyed, marriage there was no other issue than a daughter, it was intended to have it laid off adjoining the who was afterwards the wife of James II: and, western boundary of the cession by the treaty of mother of Mary and Anne, Queens of England." Here, on the sure side, is the boasted blood of Detroit, of November 17th, 1807. With this view "" gave birth a standard line, called the "principal meridian for the illustrious family of Brunswick;" crossed, is Michigan territory," was run north from Fort Defi- however, by many, legally and illegally, since the goes, "low-lived creature," a "tub woman,' ance 114 miles; which meridian, so far as also the western boundary of the cession aforesaid. mere ideocity-which, indeed, it is not very fr At the distance of 78 miles on this line, a base-line to queens of England, else it had depreciated to from, as it is. was run east through the cession, which base-line passed eight miles north of Detroit, and at 77 miles from the meridian, terminated on the border of Lake St. Clair, seven miles above its outlet into Detroit river. The military district aforesaid was laid off in eight ranges, east of the principal meridian, and extending six townships on each side of the base line. But a considerable portion of the western part of the district proving to be unfit for cultivaon, by reason of stamps and sma!! lakes, govern it Foreign Articles. ENGLAND, &c. The bill for further suspending the habeas corpus sey had passed the house of commons, and, no doubt, Wheat and other grain, and flour suffered a se would be passed by the lords. vere fall about the 23d of June, on the promising. prospects of a good harvest. Flour, at Liverpool, An incident similar to this occurred tó an actor July 1, 70 to 73s. per bbl. and declining. named Palmer some years ago. He was performing Money never was so plenty among the monied in the "Stranger"-His own domestic circumstanmen in England as at this time. The doating wealth ces so closely resembled those of the character he of the nation is in the hands of a very few specula-was sustaining, that when he had, with exquisite tors and others, and the increasing misery of the feeling, repeated the exclamation, people adds to their stock. "O God! there is another and a better world!" The floating debt, or exchequer bills [treasury His sensibility was overpowered; he fell on the stages notes) of England, amounts to 52,897,2001. upwards and expired in sight of the audience.. of two hundred and thirty four millions of dollars. Another issue of 12 millions of pounds, more, must be made to meet the current or actual expences of the present year This debt, is not noticed in the "budget." In the "hands-full of millions" it is no importance!-Nor does the budget say any thing of the interest of the public debt, which is, or is to be, otherwise provided for. From the late finance report it appears, that the British government have on hand the following amount of gunpowder and small arms: Gunpowder, bbls. 294,000 Muskets, 818,000 Rifles, Carbines, 4,000 36,000 cost HOUSE OF COMMONS-JUNE 20. The Budget. The chancellor of the exchequer moved the order of the day for the house resolv ing itself into a committee of ways and means. Mr. Tierney suggested the propriety of postpon ing the committee at that late hour. The chancellor of the exchequer observed that after the statement of the income and expendi ture of the country had been fixed for that night, it would be necessary, in order to prevent the circu £1,470,000 lation of unfounded rumors, that the house should 1,757,800 go into a committee.-The house then resolved it10,500 self into a committee.-The chancellor of the exche 64,000 quer was sorry that it was necessary, at so late ar hour to bring the subject before the house, but inTotal gunpowder and small arms, £3,302,300 dulged the hope that no materia! measure he had From the twenty third to the twenty sixth June, to propose to the committee would meet with oppathe mean temperature in London and Westminster, sition. The house would also come better prepared had been 83 and 84 in the shade, and from 108 to for the discussion than upon similar occasions by 110 in exposed situations. The intense heat had means of the different reports of the committee of been fatal in an unprecedented degree to that use- finance. These reports would spare him much laful animal, the horse. Not less than twelve fine bor, as to them he intended to refer; and more atmachine horses dropped between Hyde Park and tention would probably be paid to printed docuHounslow. ments of that nature than to any necessary hurried Gen. Thornton, in the British house of commons, statements that he might make. His labor would asked leave to bring in a bill to abolish the dis-be also much diminished by the consolidation of the graceful practice of publicly whipping women as a revenues of Great Britain and Ireland. Much labor punishment. The proposition was received with re- had been employed to reconcile the accounts of the iterated bursts of laughter, and he had some difficul- two countries, as would appear afterwards. It had ty to get his motion seconded. "The English are been so arranged in virtue of the consolidation of a flogged nation," says Cobbett. the English and Irish exchequers, that from the 5th The wretched and nearly naked populace of Dub- of last January they started with a new consolidated lin have raised several riots, requiring the aid of account of the revenue of the united kingdom. In the military. The poor people seized loads of po-one part of the revenue only, there was to be regrettatoes in the streets and devoured them raw!-ted a deficit of 20 per cent. but this could not be Among the most active in reducing them to order, wondered at in an agricultural country like Ireland we observe the name of the supremely infamous at the conclusion of a war which had impoverished major Sirr, who with the guard of lancers gallantly its natural resources. Notwithstanding these paincharged the miserable rabble, while they were eat-ful circumstances, the house would be gratified in ing their spoils! "Tranquility" had been restored. hearing, that the means by which the current de The people of Dublin were ordered by the mayor mands of the year were to be met, were neither burto remain in their respective houses from 9 o'clock thensome nor objectionable. The supplies of the at night until six in the morning, by proclamation. year were estimated as follows: The state of Ireland is very alarming. "From the north to the south or the west," says the Dublin Evening Post, "and at home, there is not a single county in which disturbances have not occurred; but they are serious, indeed, in Munster, Kerry, Clare, Waterford, Cork, but above all, Limerick, have been the scenes of tumult and outrage, such as were never before experienced in those districts." Three British frigates were about to sail for South America to strengthen the force on that station. SUPPLIES. Army (including £1,500,000, for extra- Navy (exclusive of grant for the reduc- €9,080,000 6,000,000 1,221,300 1,700,000 of the ? 18,001,300 Total supply for the service of the Real tragedy. A late London paper says-Last night, while the tragedy of Jane Shore was perform-To make good the permaing at our theatre, the part of Dumont by Mr. Cummins, the highly respectable veteran had just repeated the benedictory words, "Be witness for me, ye celestial hosts, when he fell down on the stage, and instantly expired. 1 Such was the total amount of that establishment was to prevail on the public to take guineas, though he had to propose. He could not call it a peace establishment, for the period had not arrived at which we could be said to enjoy the benefits of a profound and real peace-(Hear, hear!)-The house would recollect that at the opening of the session he had estimated the expenditure at £18,300,000, which The unfounded debt was fell £300,000 short. £1,900,000 and there were thirty three millions of unprovided expenditure. This expenditure he proposed to meet in the following manner Annual-duties Disposal Ways and means WAYS AND MEANS. 1815 15,749 1,819,810 Excise duties, after satisfying grant thereon for the year 1816 Money remaining at the disposal of parliament of the consolidated fund, at April 5, 1817, Lottery old stores Arrears of property tax received or to be received between the 5th of April, 1817, and April, 1818, Trish treasury bills 3,600,000 £13,000,000 the bank was ready to supply them-(Laughs) That resumption had, however, been carried to a consolatory extent, and he hoped, would be completed by July, 1818. So far as this resumption had gone, it had been accomplished without giving the least shock to public credit. (Cries of Hear!)- -so that the value of our paper and our specie were alike unimpaired. As to the public debt, their committee had not reported with regard to it; but, notwithstanding the failure of bis own anticipations, this also had been reduced 400,0001. béyond what was promised.-Nor was this the only satisfactory circumstance connected with the public revenue: for since the 1st day of October, 1816, 1,865,559 132,000,000 of capital stock had been paid off in the market.-These sums were taken out of the 1,300,000 stock market, so that every day diminished their amount, and, in all probability, the sum so redeemed would amount to 120,000,000, by the time of 1,225,978 next year's budget. He felt not only sanguine, but 250,000 confident as to the progressive improvement of the 400,000 revenue, though he could not, under all circumstances, pretend to predict the exact period when such an improvement might be expected-(Laugh.) 1,500,000 -This amelioration was connected with that of the continent, who suffered more than we possibly 9,511,537 could. We had a share of calamity, though a small share, while the continental countries were struggling for subsistence, and therefore could not bene-12,600,000 fit us. Should it please Divine Providence to bless the nations with a plentiful harvest, and the people 22,141,537 were grateful for it, then he had no doubt there Before Easter, no less than 14,200,000, had been would arise fresh demands for our articles, comapplied to equalize the bank of Ireland, which still merce would be increased, and the resources of the insisted on an interest of five per cent; but as the country soon be replenished. It was no slight saIrish exchequer bills would not become due till tisfaction to him that he had to congratulate the January next, it was the intention of government to house on the improvement of public credit, the reremedy this evil. He had no doubt at the same sumption of cash payments, and the reduction of the time, that the bank of England would reduce their national debt. He trusted that he should hear no interest as the bills became due. There still re-further of those dangerous remedies for public diffimained 19,000,000 to be provided for, which he proposed to do by exchequer bills-a mode which every circumstance had convinced him was most be neficial to the public. He has tried to reduce the exchequer bills, and had succeeded in reducing it to the amount of three hundred thousand pounds a year without the least difficulty. From the 24th of February he had disposed of twenty-seven million pounds sterling of exchequer bills, and more than eight months remained for the disposal of the other 24 millions. It was upon these considerations that he recommended the measure with the greatest confidence as one not likely to reduce the credit of the country, and which, in point of fact, would not produce the least inconvenience. Without now going to the extent of what might be offered to the house, it was no slight satisfaction for them to reflect that the public securities had improved to the amount of 20 per cent. on the whole capital of the country. Exchequer bills, which were lately at 4 3-4 and 5 1-4 per cent. were now reduced to 33-4 per cent. interest, with 12 shillings premium. This improvement of the state of public credit shewed that the resources of the country were reviving. culties which had been suggested in that house; that no proposition would be made to reduce the interest of the national debt, or commit a breach of public faith. (Repeated cheering).-He should have no occasion to resort to parliament for the interest on the new exchequer bills, and he felt full confidence in the state of the country. At the suggestion of Mr. Tierney, and after some conversation, the chancellor of the exchequer consented to put off the report of the committee till Tuesday next. The several resolutions were then put and agreed to, and the report ordered to be received on Tuesday next. Adjourned at twelve o'clock. Ad captandum-In consequence of the retrenchment in the expences of the prince regent, a quantity of Madeira wine had been sent out to Kingston (Jam.) in the ship Globe, and was to be sold for the prince's benefit. FRANCE. The withdrawal of a second fifth of the "army of occupation" is spoken of. A Russian fleet of 8 sail of the line, 1 frigate and a brig has arrived at Calais for the purpose of carrying off 10,000 troops. The famous count Lavalette is reported to have arrived at New York, during the last week. The French frigate Eurydice has arrived at New There was another topic to which he was anxious to call the attention of the house, and this was the resumption of cash payments by the bank. When he recollected how he had been mocked and twit-York, from Martinique, on a visit. She has for ted on this subject not longer than two years ago, and he believed the house had not forgotten it(Laughs) he had some reason to pride himself on what had now taken place. The difficulty in fact some time been stationed in the West Indies. The bishop of Orleans, and forty Catholic priests, were to sail from France in a frigate, the end of June, for the Mississippi. |