y, which now came up, were stationed near the the snow; their bodies reddened in spots the idge, and opened a fire upon them, that did con- white surface of the ground." The men were now erole execution. About 70 prisoners were ta- desperate; excessive fatigue, and the feeling of n; among them was the young Gen. Lefebvre, disgrace there was in thus retreating, or as they mmander of the imperial guards. It was said said, running away from the enemy, excited in at the Emperor himself was on the heights and them a feeling which was almost mutinous...A wed this action. The ardour of the French was few hours pause was what they unanimously nifestly damped-and Moore soon after uniting wished for, an opportunity of facing the French, in Sir D. Baird, proceeded (Dec. 30) on to the chance of an honourable and speedy death, the lia Franca and Lugo. At Astorga all the su certainty of sweetening their sufferings by taking rfluous camp equipage was destroyed, and all vengeance on their pursuers. A Portuguese bul e sumpter mules, horses &c. that could not keep lock driver, who had faithfully served the English with the mules, abandoned. On the march, the from the first day of their march, was seen on his litary chest was sacrificed. Barrels full of dol-knees amid the snow, with his hands clasped, dys were staved and precipitated over rocks, into ing in the attitude and act of prayer. He had at vines, dens and rivers From Astorga to Lugo least the hopes and the actual consolation and e road lay for the most part through bleak moun- comfort of religion in his passing hour. The soiins covered with snow, affording so scanty adiers who threw themselves down to perish by the pply of provisions, owing to the marches of the way side, gave utterance to far different feelings fferent armies backwards and forwards, that the with their dying breath; shame and strong anger ops were sometimes two days without tasting were their last sentiments, and their groans were y food. The men half-famished, half frozen, mingled with imprecations upon the Spaniards, d altogether desperate were no longer in any by whom they fancied themselves betrayed, and hordination. They forced their way into the the generals who rather let them die like beasts, uses where their rations should have been serv than take the chance in the field of battle. That I, seized it by force, and destroyed more than no horror might be wanting, women and chiley could carry away. During the march the dren accompanied this wretched army; some were tremes of vice and misery seemed to meet. In frozen to death in the baggage waggons, which me of the villages the unburied dead bodies of were broken down, or left upon the road for e inhabitants lay outstretched before the doors want of cattle; some died of fatigue and cold, their own houses, from which they had been while the infants were pulling at the exhausted iven by the unrelenting soldier, urged by his breast_one woman was taken in labour upon vn necessities, to perish with cold and hunger the mountain; she lay down at the turning of others no trace of inhabitants were to be an angle, more sheltered than the rest of the und. Stragglers from different corps plundered way from the sleet which drifted along; there e different magazines, commissaries, stores and she was found dead, and two babes, which she llars, and afterwards lay intoxicated by the side- had brought forth, struggling in the snow-a ay,mixed with the sick and those overcome with blanket was thrown other to hide her from tigue, to be trampled under the feet, or mangled sight the only burial that could be afforded, and the sabres of the enemy. Besides the terrible the infants were given in charge to another wo xample of a man who had been shot at Villa man, (TO BE CONTINUED.) ranca, for such conduct, Gen. Moore held up her warnings not less impressive. Several strag. ers who had been hacked and hewed by the rench troopers, were led through their respecve corps as examples of the consequences of unkenness and disobedience to orders. From what has been said in my former number, Bonaparte pursued no further than Astorga: he animal life is the continued application of new maten charged Marshal Soult, with what he called ter acting upon organized animal matter, producthe glorious mission of destroying the English ing motion in the animal on which it acts; but does my of driving them into the sea."-The Bri the action of exciting matter on animal matter give sh army pursued their weary way, without pro- us all the phenomena of life? How are we to exsion to sustain nature, shelter from the rain and plain sensation, volition, irritation, the passions, &c. ow, fuel for fire, to keep the vital heat from In order to do this, I will first observe, that tal extinction, a place where the sick and fatigu- there is an uninterrupted communication kept up I could rest a moment in safety All that had between that part of an organized animal called the therto been suffered was but the prelude to this brain, and every other part of the body; this comnsummate scene of horrors. It was still at- munication between the brain and body, is occasimpted to carry on some of the sick and wound oned by an unknown modification of matter called the beasts which drew them failed at every nerves, they have their origin from the brain, and are ep; and they were left in the waggons to perish distributed to every part of an organized animal ;-the snows" I looked round," says an officer, those nerves, which are intended for the senses, when we had hardly gained the highest point of have their origin immediately from the substance ose slippery precipices, and saw the rear of the of the brain; those which produce the great variety my winding along the narrow road. I saw their of voluntary, involuntary and mixed motions, oriay marked by the wretched people who lay on ginate from the spinal marrow: now as soon as one I sides expiring, from fatigue and the severity of of those nerves passes off from the brain or spine, The child of a woman who died of hunger it divides and subdivides into an infinite number of dfatigue, was found clinging and trying to minute branches and ramifications, pervading the aw sustenance from the cold breasts of its most delicate fibre of every part of the animal solid. eless mother! A soldier of a Highland regi Now, the great variety of sensation, volition, ent took the infant, carried it along with him, irritation, &c. must be produced by the great varie now protects and calls it his child.-Annual ty of exciting matter, acting upon the ends of those gister, vol. 51, p. 19. nerves, producing motion in them, which motion Philosophical Disquisitions. NO. IV. a is communicated to the brain. An idea then, seems the solid aggregate; this affinity increases unții t'to be nothing more than motion produced in the animal solid arrives to a certain age, for the mas brain by exciting matter, from without, acting upon dense and solid matter becomes under certame the end of a nerve, and it seems highly probable, cumstances, the greater must be the power require! that this is the case with respect to all ideas and to overcome its resistance. This is the case w every faculty the mind possesses. most matter as far as it has come under my observ In order to explain this more clearly, I will give tion, and I have also observed, the longer a givea few examples. The exciting matter of a ray of light, bulk of matter remains together, the more firm acts upon the retina of the eye, this produces motion united and consolidated it becomes, and its affinty in the retina, which gives rise to perception in the for other matter diminished. brain, through the medium of the optic nerve, Fluid matter now exerts a more fecble influence hence the origin of light and objects. The exciting upon solid matter; it passes through it withou matter of sound, produces vibration in the air, which producing the same sensible changes as was for acts upon the tympanum of the car; motion is com-merly observed; now when fluidity passes throug municated to the brain through the medium of the a solid having but little affinity for it, its motios auditory nerve, hence the origin of hearing. The must be necessarily slow, unless remote affinity in exciting matter of odors, acts upon a very delicate pells it forward. The circulation of all the flas membrane of the nose, this membrane is put in being retarded in consequence of worn-down affinct, motion, which is conveyed to the brain by the ol-it is at length incapable of exerting any inf factory nerve; hence the origin of smell. The ence upon solid matter; the parts of which th exciting matter of food acts upon the tongue, mo- solid are composed, have so great an affinity fr tion is conveyed to the brain; hence the origin of each other, that exciting matter cannot act upon é taste. Various exciting matter acts upon the ends in such a manner as to produce the variety of me of the fingers and surface of the body, motion is tion necessary to the life of the solid; it now ext communicated to the brain through the medium of bits none of the phenomena of life. This I im a variety of nerves; hence the origin of touch or agine to be the case with very old animals, that de feeling. with age for it has come under the observation sí The great variety of exciting matter produces almost every person, that when an animal arries the great variety of motion, and the great variety of to a great age, the solids become rigid, and wi notion produces the great variety of sensation, vo- not give way to the impulse of the fluids: of course lition, irritations, &c. either agreeable or disagreea- the circulation of the blood and all the fluids se ble to the animal on which it acts. The exciting creted from it, glide slowly through the system: the matter of contagion produces motion, unfriendly fibres of the stomach become incapable of acting to the animal nerve on which it acts; hence the upon the contained food; of course à larger porti origin of epidemic fever. The exciting matter of than is consistent with health is required to roue food, drink, &c. produces motion friendly to the the stomach into action; the lacteals do not absor nerve which receives it; hence the origin of health. a sufficient quantity of chyle; the intestines le Now, as long as excit matter continues its come torpid; the power of the heart and arters action on animal matter, so as to produce motion, lose their force and frequency; and death from which has not a tendency to destroy organization, worn down affinity closes the scene. The old cr the animal is supported by it; but when it acts in gan loses gradually the parts of which it is consuch a manner as to disarrange its parts; without posed, and becomes exciting matter for new organe arranging them again, the animal becomes incapa- germs. The time required for its dissolution de ble of performing his office. Organization being pends in a great degree upon the manner exciting destroyed by the improper application of exciting matter acts, and the demand neighboring organic matter, the parts of which it was composed become germs have for it. exciting matter for other animals producing new Physiologists all agree in opinion, that the sis organization. When we consider, that an animal of all animals derive their existence from ficë, is nothing more than an organized machine placed although strictly speaking, there is no such thing within the reach of a great variety of exciting mat-in matter as fluidity, for it seems to be nothing ter, and that a certain portion of it is continually more than solidity partially antagonized by ry acting upon it in order to produce motion, it would pulsion. The male semen when it first comes in not, at first view, seem strange that this organ should contact with the ova of the ovarium, is in a find be so often out of repair. state, but in a short time, it assumes a very differ All the matter of which animals are composed, ent form, viz. from a fluid paste to the hardest bone. is divided by physiologists, into solid and fluid. The In tracing the rudiments of a new being from fissolid parts consist of bone, cartilage, muscle, inte- dity to a state of solidity, it is necessary to observe, gument, nerve, &c. The fluids consist of blood that a great portion of the solids of all animals es and that which is formed from it-although the solid hibit a fibrous appearance, those fibres were en may appear to be entirely free from fluidity, yet when dently formed from vessels circulating fluid. In subjected to chemical analysis it is found to contain the embryon state, fluids pass without much resis a considerable portion of fluid matter, every portion tance; but as soon as fluid and affinity erected ther of the solid is continually receiving a due portion affections, the fluid found considerable resistance, of moisture for the purpose of keeping up a suffi- made on the part of the solid: this resistance in cient degree of motion to preserve its organization. creases, and at length the fluid matter is not suffer The fluid which filters through the solid is continued to pass through the solid, unless it is the mor ally acting upon it, by reason of its affinity; as it volatile parts. Every lamina of bone, fibre, muses circulates. a portion of the solid is carried along tendon, &c. seems to have been once vasculr. with the fiaid, and leaves a portion of fluid matter but the continued application of fluid matter case behind to supply the place of the worn down solid. the vessel, through which it passes to thicke After fluid matter has acted some time on solid the diameter of each circular fibre is continea! matter, the affinity between the two is lessened in becoming less until all the fibres of which the ves consequence of the greater affinity existing between was first formed, become solid. Were not passage CEBES. the case, how are we to account for the fibres of its motions depend upon the action of fluidity and muscle, bone, &c. running more or less parallel to other exciting matter. each other, these fibres are very plainly seen in the Having traced the rudiments of a new being muscles of an adult or bones of a foetus. As soon from the fluid to the solid state, and finding its oras one vessel becomes solid, and has obstructed the ganization similar to the parent matter, which gave of fluids, it is compelled to seek another it existence, it is reasonable to suppose, the parent route in the neighborhood of the solid: the solid now is not capable of supporting it any longer; it is directs the course of the fluid along its surface, and therefore disengaged from its place of confinement in a short time, a thin and delicate membrane is and ushered into light and life. Immediately formed around the Auid: the fluid now is no longer it comes into existence, it is acted upon by exciting governed by the solid which first directed its course, matter, very different from that furnished by the having a reservoir of its own, it circulates through parent. The air, for instance, acts upon the lungs it, and imparts fluidity to its inner surface, until it and tender surface of the body: the effect of this becomes a solid by the laws of affinity. is an exertion, on the part of the infant, to relieve Now, we have two parallel fibres, with a delicate pain; it cries aloud, the lungs now become dilated membrane, or bond of union between them; this by atmospheric air, the vital parts of which are abseems to be the first solid part formed from fluid sorbed by the small blood vessels of the lungs; it matter, it pervades the whole body, and gives union stimulates them to action; the circulation of the and strength to it. This membrane by physiolo-red fluid is put in more rapid motion, and contin. gists is called cellular, from its having a number of ues to go on until life ceases to exist. In order that cells. It must be formed at a very early period, for parental affinity may not be entirely withdrawn as soon as fluid matter comes in contact with the after the new being is disengaged from the parent, solid matter, one portion of the former united with the first six or nine months it sucks the breast of another portion of the latter: there is now a medi-the mother. It is then capable of withstanding the um between the density of the two this new mat-great variety of rough agents, which have a tenter increases in solidity by its affinity, until a thin dency to destroy it: the world is now before it membrane is formed: fluid matter now, has a less where to choose, and exciting matter its guide. affinity for it; singular changes take place in the fluid contained in the membrane, until the whole becomes a solid. To give the reader a more correct idea of this substance, let us take for instance, any of the large muscles, and macerate it in water for several days, when taken out, a thin membrane is found partly detached; this is the connecting medium between the muscle and its fellow: after this coat is removed, the muscle seems to be composed of a number of parallel fibres: remove these fibres, and we find for arming the militia; when on motion of Mr. Mileach connected to its fellow by a like membrane: so, that a muscle, when minutely examined, isor, an amendment was made to that section of the composed of nothing but a number of thin and mi bill which inflicts a penalty on the representative of nute lamina. This is likewise the case with bone, any deceased militiamen improperly withholding cartilage, &c. The periostium seems to be coeval Mr. M. Clay stated that he yesterday voted in fawith bone, perhaps it is first formed, ossification then takes place in the contained fluid, and contin-vor of an amendment to the bill, leaving it with the ues until the whole is converted into bony matter: respective states or territories to distribute the arms this hard substance having closed almost every direct. He now wished to have that vote reconsiprovided by this bill, in such a manner as they may avenue: fluid matter is now conducted along the dered, and moved to that effect. surface of the bone; and in consequence of lessened The yeas and nays were called upon the question. affinity between the two, a substance of a softer Mr. Lacock observed, that as this was an imporconsistence is formed on the bone called cartilage. tant question, upon which, perhaps, the fate of the The size, strength and form of the cartilge will de-bill depended, he could wish to have it decided in a pend upon the size, strength and form of the bone,uller house, there being barely a quorum of memand the quantity of fluid, which comes in contact hers present. He therefore moved that the house with it. Now as the first affinity acts with the greatest force, the second with a less, &c. it seems adjourn.-Carried. probable that the rudiments of the hardest sub stance of an animal are first formed, viz. bone.The next affinity acting with a less force, may lay the foundation for a substance called cartilage. The third tendon, muscle, &c. Now the first affinity existing between the male semen and the fluid which is contained in the ova of the ovarium, when this comes in contact, is the greatest; of course, the foundation is laid for the hardest animal substance, minor affinities succeed the first, until the solid becomes properly formet and organized, it is now only capable of giving to the fluidity a small portion of its matter, and at the same time receiving from the fluid mass new matter equal to that which it parted with: The continu ed application of fluidity is now necessary to keep up a degree of motion on the organized body, and Twelfth Congress. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Friday Feb. 14. After disposing of some private petitions The house resumed the consideration of the bill his arms. Adjourned till Monday. Monday, Feb. 17.-Mr. Bacon, from the come mitte of ways and means, made the following t PORTANT SPECIAL REPORT, which was read, referred to a committee of the whole on Monday next, and ordered to be printed : REPORT. The CoMMITTEE of WAYS and MEANS haring taken into their consideration the subject of the revenue and expenditure of the United States, for the present and two succeeding years, in particular referrence to a state of contemplated war during a greater portion of that period, ask leave to REFORT. That the ordinary expenses during the present year, grounded on the estimates already laid before congress, are estimated as follows, viz. Expenses of a civil nature both fo reign and domestic, Army, exclusive of the additional military force authorised by the act the present session, and including $32,800, for the service of militia in the years 1809, 1810 and 1811, Naval department, including the marine corps, Arsenals, arms, ordnance, repairs of fortifications, including $ 200,000, permanent appropriations for the purchase and manufacture of arms, Indian department, Interest on the public debt, $1,260,000 2,581,000 estimated as for the present year To which must be added the interest Total ordinary expenses, 9,400,000 That the actual receipts into the trea. sury during the same year are estimated at, 8,200,000 1,200,000 Which deficit may however be paid out of the monies remaining in the treasury at the close of the year, leaving a sum of $1,800,000 on hand, which in the opinion of the committee, it would not be prudent under existing circumstances farther to ex Leaving a deficit in the receipts of haust. Erection of additional fortifications Calling out certain corps of volunteers, 1,000,000 Calling out militia Estimating the ordinary expences of year And also the interest then accruing $9,000,000 660,000 $9,660,000 3,100,000 $6,560,000 $.9,000,000 660,000 660,000 $ 10,320,000 3,100,000 $7,220,000 1,000,000 1,000,000 $10,801,332 26 Leaving a deficiency to be provided Total extraordinary expenses (say) 11,000,000 for by additional revenues to be reThe whole of which sum it is necessary and is ceived during that year of accordingly proposed to raise by loan conformable to Under this prospective view of the financial situthe bill herewith reported by the committee. ation of the government, it became in the judgment That the amount of the principal of the public of the committee their imperious duty as well in re. debt which is reimbursable during the same year, ference to the obligations incumbent upon them consisting of six per cent. deferred and exchang- from the general trust with which they were clothed stock, is $2,135,000 ed, as also in deference to that portion of the mesAnd in the event of stocks falling be. sage of the President of the United States, which had been specially referred to their consideration, to enter as early as possible upon a system of ways and means calculated to provide a revenue, "suff cient at least to defray the ordinary expences of government, and to pay the interest on the public debt, including that on new loans which may be autho. 3,640,000 rised." low par [thereby imposing upon the commissioners of the sinking fund an obligation to purchase in order to satisfy the annual appropri ation of eight millions of dollars for the reduction of the public debt] may amount to the further sum of Total amount of the principal of the public debt which may become reimbursable during the present year Which sum it is also proposed to authorise the commissioners of the sinking fund to borrow, conformable to such bill as may hereafter be reDorted. That the ordinary expenses of government for the year 1813, may be Any provision falling short of this requisition, would, in the opinion of the committee, betray an improvidence in the government, tending to impair $5,775,000 its general character, to sap the foundations of its credit, and to enfeeble its energies in the prosecution of the contest into which it may soon be driven in defence of its unquestionable rights, and for the repulsion of long continued and most aggravated aggressions. Should the ruinous system of relying altogether upon the aid of loans, for defraying, not only the extraordinary expenditures of the present and succeeding years, but also a large portion both of the ordinary expences of the government, and the, commensurate with the expence, and by preserv. interest on the public debt, including that on new ing unimpaired instead of abusing that public creloans, be suffered to prevail, and no additional re-dit on which the public resources so eminently devenues be seasonably provided, it will result, that pend, will enable the United States to persevere in the loans which it may be necessary to authorise du the contest,until an honorable peace shall have been ring the year 1813, must amount to at least 10,560,000 obtained.” dollars, and for 1814, to 18,220,000 dollars; an ope It is then proposed by the committee, that the ration which, by throwing into the market so large additional revenue which will be necessary" to dean amount of stock, accompanied with no adequate fray the ordinary expences of government, and to provision for paying even the interest accruing on pay the interest on the public debt, including that such as may be created, but relying altogether upon on new loans which may be authorised," should the decreasing ability to borrow for the purpose of be immediately provided for in the following modes, paying such interest, must have a most unfavorable viz. effect upon the general price of public stocks, and the consequent terms of the loans themselves. It may be added, that a system of that sort would, it is believed, be found altogether unprecedented in the financial history of any wise and regular government, and must, if yielded to, produce at no 2d. A further retention on the amount distant period, that general state of public discredit which attended the national finances during the war of the revolution, and which nothing but the peculiar circumstances of the country, and the wants of a well organised and efficient government during the period of that revolution, could at all justify. To have withheld from the public view a fair exposition of the probable state of the fiscal concerns of the government, under the first pressure of active war, or to have deferred submitting to the house such a system as in the opinion of the committee was indispensable to place the revenues of the country upon a basis commensurate with the public exigencies, would in their judgment, at once have evinced in the eyes of foreign nations an imbecility of action and of design, the effects of which must be too obvious to be mistaken. And as it regards our own country, would have indicated a policy as feeble and short sighted, as it must have been considered deceptive and disingenuous-as unworthy the rulers of a free and enlightened nation, as in its result it would have been found fatal to its interests, and paralysing to all its efforts. It is obvious that the whole amount which it is necessary to raise in order to meet the anticipated deficit of revenue for the ensuing years, is indeed "moderate when com pared either with the population and wealth of the United States or with the burthens laid on European nations by their governments." 1st. Additional duties of imposts and tonnage. 1st. An increase of the duties now payable by law on imported merchandize calculated to yield a net revenue of of all drawbacks allowed by law on 3d. An additional tonnage duty on A- Total net amount of revenue estimated 2d. Internal duties. 1st. A duty on licences to distil spirits 5th. A duty on carriages used for the 6th. A duty on various instruments of venue of To doubt whether the "will or the ability" of the people of the United States to bear such burthens as are indispensable to this end, would be to doubt their dispositions to meet seriously the contest which is presented to them, and would go far to prove that it had better not have been attemptedTo doubt the readiness of the government to Total gross amount of revenue estimatbring" promptly and efficiently" into action the ne- ed from the internal duties cessary resources of the nation, would be cast a distrust over the sincerity of those pledges which they | have so recently and distinctly given to the world in that respect, and would imply a suspicion of their firmness or forecast not for a moment to be entertained. A 3d. Direct tax. Total gross amount estimated to be re- For a more full and distinct elucidation of the ge neral subject which it has become the duty of the committee to present to the house, they beg leave to refer to the letter of the secretary of the treasury, Deduct expence of assessment, collecin answer to the several enquiries made of him by tion and losses, at about 15 per cent. their order, and which has heretofore been laid be-Net amount estimated from internal dufore the house-concurring as they most fully do in the general opinion expressed by him, "That what appears to be of vital importance is, that the crisis should at once he met by the adoption of efficient mea res, which will with certainty provide means ties and direct tax for 1814 Net amount estimated from additional $2,500,000 100,000 200,000 400,000 $3,200,000 275,000 500,000 150,000 200,000 150,000 450,000 $1,725,000 3,000,000 $4,725,000 700,000 $4,025,000 235,000 |