a distance of six miles, devastating the country, and affrighting the inhabitants through which it passed;-covering the cultivated grounds with trees, stones, earth and rubbish, from 10 to 12 feet deep; and sweeping into the lake two Baw-mills, a grist-mill, blacksmith's shop five bridges, a horse and a large number of sheep. The scene is said to have been awful. and that the history of A. merica does not record a more uncom mon event- No lives were lost. The catastrophe was occasioned by digging a canal through a quicksand soil, to communicate the waters of the pond to mill-dams below. The pond was com pletely drained. This city, once so spacious and opulent, was almost entirely inundated by the sudden rising of the Tiber. Persons may now walk upon the tops of the houses, and find out whole streets by following the direction of the tops. Some houses have been entered, and found to have been built in the same style as Pompeia. There is but one Temple, the Temple of Neptune, siuated on an elevation that has been entireiy cleared of the ruins The Temple of Mercury in which he is represented hold. ing a purse in his hand, is only part cleared away. It was here that a very fine Venus was discovered, equal to the Venus of the Capitol-But it has been carried to England. A duel was fought near Wythe courthouse, in the state of Virginia, on the 6th ult- between Mr. Robert Taylor, and Mr. William Patton-Mr. Taylor fell the second fire. The cause of the duel originated in a contention for the hand of a young lady, whom they were both at the same time addressing. Melancholy Accident-On Sunday evening, May 27th, the house of Mr. Lewis Roberson, in the town of Patterson (formerly Franklin) was struck with lightning. The flash, in its descent, struck the chimney, and followed down a rafter, under which stuck a sythe, and melting its point, ran off to a post of the house that stood near the head of the bed, where Mr. Roberson sat, whom it unfortunately killed; with his mother, who sat at the foot. Though in passing from one to the other- it strck only the feet of a child as he lay with them off the bed, (the feathers being afnon-conductor) whom it injured considerably; and continuing its fury, struck Mrs. Roberson, whom it left without sense on the floor. After which, following a sleeper, it darted into an adjoining room, where it prostrated a crowd of people, who had took shelter here on their retura from devotional service. Here was wretchedness-crowds lay on crowds, destitute of power to alleviate each other in this forlorn condition. and two who, the moment before, might have exulted in the health and vigor they possessed, have now trod the path which all who are living must tread. Eternity is theirs; from whose mansion of bondage no soul can return. The momentary exit they have made, evinces to us that" in the midst of life we are in death," and that the cord which seperates us from futurity, is but brittle and easily broken. We may record these incidents with seeming indiffer. ence, though to realize them is the part of a person who knows how to die. Somers Museum. Theatrical. Master Payne, and Mr. Young, are playing at Petersburgh, Virginia, The former has been perform. ing at Norfolk, with great applause. MUNGO PARK. We have the satisfaction to communicate the very pleasing intelligence of the safety of Mr. Mungo Park, whose supposed loss, his family, his friends, and his country have sincerely, but prematurely deplored for several years. The event was considered so certain, that a pension was voted for Mrs. Park, by the House of Commons, in consideration of her husband's public, services, in a former session of parliament. This Gentleman, as our reades will recollect, has been long and usefully engaged in exploring the interior of Africa, and a sanguine hope may be now entertained that his country will have the benefit of his laborious and hazardous researches. The whole of the suit attached to the enterprize, above fifty in number, with the exception of three, are said to have perished. The intelligence to which we allude, and which we hope soon to find fully confirmed, has been received by the ship Favorite, of London, capt. Truman, arrived at Plymouth, from Goree. Previous to the departure of that vessel, information had been received at Senegal, by a native of the Mandingo country, who accompanied Mr. Park, as far into the interior as Sego and Sansanding, that he was alive in the month of January. Col May. well, the Governor of of Senegal, had, inconsequence of this information, directed that a decked boat should immediately be fitted out to proceed up the rivet Senegal, for the purpose of giving assistance to Mr. Park, in his indefatigable exertions in exploring the continent of Africa. This account is further corroborated by a letter dated in March last, received by a vessel from Siera Leona, from Dr, Douglas, who writes as follows: "Permit me to lay before you some information respecting Mungo Park, which I was favored with from an intel ligent Mahomedan, whom I met at Goree, and who had acted as a guide to Mr. Park, from the time of his landing on the continent of Africa, to his embarkation on the Niger. He states that the king of Sego had shown much favor to Mr. Park, and that the report of his assassination there was untrue. He had passed far along the Niger, without any molestation whatever, from the natives. My informant could not recollect the date of his embarkation on Niger, but thinks it must be about three years ago. Mr. Park had taken four months provisions for himself and two the Each leaf's at rest-the grove is stillNow scarce a sound swells on the ear; There's nought, except the murm'ring rill, That breaks the magic silence here. Now gently curls the hamlet's smoke The bleating flock, the hedge along, The horn is blown-the rustic goesHis team is left beneath a tree-With frolic heart, he flies to those Who joyful run to clasp his knee. EDGAR. |