shames the penetrating genius of polished and enlightened statesmen. THE BONAPARTE FAMILY. Every man reflecting seriously on this practice of imprisoning men for debt, must abhor and detest it; even the most uncultivated nations of the earth would blush at it. For many years past I have looked upon this practice with abhorrence, but I anticipate with pleasure, that the time is not far distant when this blemish will be wiped from our government, and this hydra monster which stalks about the land will be buried in the lowest pit of obliv-poleon. The first of these personion. A FARMER. How striking the conversation, and politic the remark of this Indian. The custom of many Indian nations to debtors presents a trait in their character very judicious and valuable, and worthy of the imitation of civilized nations. If an individual is able, but refuses to pay his honest debt, a seizure is made upon his property to the amount due, the value of which is respectfully submitted to the arbitration of the chief. If the debtor is unable pay, the creditors wait till the hunting season empowers the indebted to pay, or the creditor to seize. More than this they have no punishment. It is a fact that is not more singular than true, that among the Indians there are instances of laws more judicious of their kind than in civilized nations. to The above law or custom is one of those instances; for while its mildness makes the christian blush, its policy The members of the Bonaparte family consist of the Princess Pauline, married to Prince Borghese; Louis Bonaparte, the ex-king of Holland; Lucien the Prince of Canino, and his family, and lastly the mother of Na ages was the favourite sister of the ex-emperor, and during his residence in Elba, he was in the habit of place ing her close to him when they were in company: he sometimes would turn round while at dinner, and desire one of his officers to compose some quatrain in honour of the princess's charms, and to recite it to her at the table. One of these officers, who accompanied him to Elba, shewed a friend of mine several verses that had been composed by himself in obedience to his master's instructions. The Princess lives separate from her husband, but she is allowed to occupy the splendid building of the Borghese palace at Rome. At present the prince resides at Florence. Napoleon, during his supremacy, had endeavoured to bring him forward in some public capacity, but the attempt is said to have failed; his inattention rendering it necessary to withdraw him from the situations to which he was appointed. The princess Pauline is fond of society; she is, indeed, said to display much of the coquetry and vanity of a French woman of fashion. Canova has executed a statue of her, the symmetry and luxurious attitude of which is much admired. One evening she issued invitations for a large suit; the form of the invitation expressed her hope, that she should have the company of such and such persons, "to see, the statue by Canova lighted up.” Persons sufficiently well acquaintby the length of their intercourse the Bonaparte family, to debe the characters of the different mbers of it, gave the reputation of erior amiableness to two other sis ct. of Napoleon, Madame Baiocchi, Madame Murat; the former is mentioned with particular re man. Her uncle had, at one period, designed her to become the spouse of Ferdinand, the present king of Spain, but afterwards altered his plan, thinking that something more was necessary to secure the full dependence of Spain upon his own power. The mother of Napoleon, formerly dignified by the title of Madame Mere, resides, together with her brother ucien carefully abstains from Cardinal Fesch, in the Palazzo Falwing himself in public, though he cone. She lived in seclusion, and its such English society as are in- was even said to have become a deJuced to him. He never touches votee. Only one of her former ladies olitical subjects, or can be betray of honour remains with her; she ocnto conversing upon them when cupies, however, a full suit of apartduced by others, who are desirous ments, very handsomely furnished,. earning his opinion. He affects and with a greater attention to comfort occasional air of frivolity in con- than is usual in Italian houses. She ation, probably as a veil to the affects none of the reserve of Lucien us designs with which he has on certain subjects, but speaks with said to be occupied respecting tears in her eyes of the ex-emperor, rother. However that may be, displays the feelings of a mother in said to be a difficult matter to her language respecting him, and lahim out into giving his opinions ments that he has not written to any any subject, whether political or of his family since his being at St. He had commenced farming, Helena, fondly cherishing the hope, ly after the English manner, at (which appears to prevail among the Country villa La Rufinell, suppos- adherents of Bonaparte) that the Eny some to stand on the site of glish government would finally set ro's Tusculan villa. His passion him at liberty; and generally conagriculture had, however, much cludes with some strong encomiums ed, and was succeeded by a pason the character of the English nafor astronomy. He is in posses- tion, with the generosity of which she of a fine telescope, and some op- declares herself well acquainted. Mainstruments by Dolland, but I dame Mere has evidently been a very hed that he was fickle in all these fine woman; at her advanced period rent pursuits, and soon abandon of life she still looks well, through the em. His dwelling in Rome is aid of her toilette; her manners are Eiently handsome, and he has even dignified. She appears a queen, small parties in the evening for and refutes, as do her daughters, c or dancing: two of his daugh- those notions of the vulgar manners of play and sing prettily, and express the ladies of the Bonaparte family, rtiality for Scotch music, especial- which were so easily accredited in hat published by Mr. George Britain. In one of the rooms in Lumpson, of Edinburgh: one of cien's palace, is a bust of Niccolo favourite airs is, "Scots wha Bonaparte, the father, which exhibits wi Wallace bled." His eldest a countenance of remarkable expreshter (the fruit of his first mar-sion: finer, indeed, than that of Nawas married to a Roman noble-poleon, or any of the family. rights, without entirely sacrificing property of debtors, is absolutely manded by the present conditio our country. Such a law, I beli it expedient to repose so much c can be framed; and if you shall d in November last. But alas! we can dence in me, as to select me on only wish their funds were better and their means of relief more ample your representatives in the next le With a view to contribute to any oblature, it is my intention to advo the passage of such a law. ject which may enable them to continue to diffuse their inestimable charity, we have given place to their Report and resolutions on this subject. MONDAY, MAY 15. With feelings of poignant regret, we have read the report of the HuMANE SOCIETY read at their meeting Bankrupt Law.-It is proposed by a number of the Debtors confined on the limits in the city of Philadelphia to purchase several hundred acres of land; intending to locate and cultivate the same for the maintenance of their families, until Congress, in their wis dom, shall think proper to pass a National Bankrupt Law. Scarcity of Money.-Notwithstanding the benevolent Laws which have been passed in the state of Ohio, so great is the distress of individuals who have been purchasers of public lands, that Wheat has been sold in their prin cipal towns at 25 cents per bushel, to enable them to pay the regular instalments required by Government. The article which follows is taken from the last nunber of the Kentucky Reporter. Our readers will perceive that the great concern of Imprisonment for Debt has excited unusual feeling in that enlightened state. C6 TO THE PEOPLE OF FAYETTE COUNTY. GEORGE SHANNON. A scene novel, interesting and thentic, occurred a short time sinc the Court House at Easton, P When among the several debtors had been imprisoned in the count Northampton, and who were abou take the benefit of the insolvent ac Pennsylvania-appeared before court Jacob Titus, a man aged years." His tall, furrowed and w out majesty of form, tottering, rec ing o'er an oaken staff, his only & port, in the 100th year of his age; linquishing by cath, his little all merciless creditor, of another age, another generation, to free the R nant of a century from the capti of a goal!!! Trembling with years, he a from his seat, and repeated the oath resignation. The court liberated h when he was told "that he might where he pleased," tears burst in eyes, an involuntary sob audibly tr bled on his withered lips, his he seemed surcharged with grief, be down with the weight of years. crowd gathered around-sympa prompted many to Pity the sorrows [of this] poor old man SUICIDE. A man named William Hultz, fined in the gaol of Wilkesbarre, for Debt, cut his throat on the 16 February, 1818. HUMANE SOCIETY OF NEW-YORK. be Humane Society, desirous of perpetuato the Poor of this city, and to friendless stors confined in Prison, the benefits which been hitherto derived from the establishunder their direction and care; and the of the Institution being inadequate to the enditure incurred, although conducted with strictest economy, they are under the neity of appealing to the community for the s of enabling them to continue the benefits his Institution through the ensuing winter: ereupon, at a Special Meeting of the Soci held pursuant to notice, at the City Dispenon Saturday, November 13th 1819, the wing Preamble and Resolution were unaniply adopted: Thereas, the Humane Society of New-York, e best of its abilities and means, has, duthe past year, as ever since its first organo, endeavoured to alleviate the sufferings e Poor of this city, and of indigent Debtors ined in Prison, and now finds, notwithstanthe efforts it has made, that its pecuniary arces are no longer adequate to its benevopurposes, and further, that a deficit to a On Thursday evening, at Friend's Meeting-house, in Hester-street, Mr. NATHAN COMSTOCK, merchant, to Miss iderable amount is still due to the Treasu-ANN MERRITT, daughter of Mr. John for expenses thus incurred; on motion, solved, That the Society be a Committee inted to procure Donations, and that each aber thereof be empowered to solicit and re* pecuniary contributions from the benevoat, in furtherance of its charitable purposes. he advantage which the distressed Debtors ar Prison, and the poorer classes of the munity in general, have experienced from Institution, particularly from the Soup esishment, especially in seasons of sickness, during the severities of the winter, it is d will induce the benevolent, by their lib contributions to enable the Society to disge their present debt, and, as heretofore, minister to the wants of the distressed. Merritt, all of this city. At Charleston, (S. C.) on the 3d inst. Dr. D. H. TREZEVANT, to Miss ANN SEWELL, daughter of the late Adam Sewell, of this city. DIED, In this city on Thursday evening, after a painful and lingering illness, Mrs. Elizabeth Conrey, aged 46 years. On Wednesday after a lingering illness, Capt. George Halsey, aged 71. On Wednesday night, Mrs. Mary E. Newbold, wife of George Newbold, Esq. in 33d year of her age. On Thursday morning, Mrs. Ann Taylor, aged 45. Same day, Mr. Dennis Dougherty, aged 38. On Friday afternoon, Henry Baldwin, aged 14, son of William W. Baldwin, of York, Upper Canada. At Kingston, (N.Y.) Mr. Benjamin F. Ten Broeck, Printer, aged 28. At Philadelphia, on the 6th inst. after a lingering illness, Mrs. Sarah M'Kean, aged 70 years, consort of the late Gov. Thomas M'Kean. 1 POETICAL DEPARTMERT. ODE TO REASON. Hail, Reason! who to Fancy's flight Wherever thou art found. The grave divine, who preaches forth By thee must test their truth. Without thee-mild Religion's but a name, That soul shall be Placid as is the summer breeze Which gently whispers through the trees, Or fans the lea. But, Reason, if thou quit the mind, And anchor left behind; Who has not seen the foaming surge In dood profound? And while it seem'd as 'twould defy Yet a small rock would stay its course, And spread a bright refulgent glory round, Till Reason stops their mad'ning sway; They then appear In their career. But when they start and wildly stray, Nor shall her sway alone be here, And when the soul aloft shall rise And leave this nether earth; More dazzling than a thousand shields, More lovely than elysian fields, Sweeter than minstrel's lays; More rapturous than Apollo's lyre, Or tones that warble from a choir, Tuned to sweet notes of praise. Mild as the fleecy clouds that fly Is thy celestial power; Then o'er this heart thy sceptre sway, And when my ardent passions stray, O check them in the fatal way That leads to Pleasure's bower. The Sire of gods, from realms above, But hapless is that giddy wight Wayward and wandering he shall stray, To light him on his dreary way, Through deep and direful roads; Strait did the nymph on earth appear, Did courtier's flattery pursue. Where Freedom's temple rose; And all her charms disclose. To glory she conducted Freedom's son, The great, the wise, the matchles WAS INGTON. EPIGRAM. HENRY Ill follow thy fortune, a termagant cries, Whose extravagance caus'd all the evil, That were some consolation the husband repl For my Fortune has gone to the devil. |