of the tribe that appeared twelve years before, and a portion of the same family which in 1817, after having fulfilled all the subterranean duties on them enjoined, issued from their dark abodes to finish above ground a career protracted greatly beyond the lives of ordinary insects. This suggests a question worthy the attention of the curious in such matters, viz: whether other insects which have not been carefully tracked throughout the whole course of their existence, and of which some annually appear, may not be much longer lived than we now suppose them to be. When compared to the ravenous locusts of Africa, they are perfectly harmless-and no one has ever observed the slightest injury done to vegetation for the purpose of satisfying their hunger;-if they feed in their winged state, I am inclined to believe that they subsist on moisture alone. LocuSTS.-A very respectable inhabitant, who has resided in Germantown during a life of 74 years, mentions the curious facts that locusts not only appear every 17 years, but that they make their appearance in great numbers always on the 25th May. Our informant recollects their advent on the 25th of May, 1766, then six years old; he has since recorded their coming on the 25th of May, 1783, 25th of May, 1800. 25th of May, 1817. Their holes may be seen in ploughing, or under boards laying on the ground, preparing to come forth on Sunday, 25th inst. It is remarked that occasionally a few locusts are seen creeping out of their hidden places before the 25th, but they return again to join the great crowd. From Poulson's American Daily Advertiser The destruction of the twigs of trees and bushes is Mr. Poulson--Observing in your useful paper a few done solely for the purpose of continuing their species-days since, a notice, respecting the periodical appearand but a few days before their own end. The female ance of the Locusts, I am induced to give you the folis provided with a sharp pointed instrument with which lowing extract from the memorandum book of an old she perforates the tender branches, and therein depo-native citizen, now no more, born in the year 1731, and sits a large number of eggs which remain enclosed in who was very precise in noting down remarkable octhe twigs for a few days. When the egg is matured, currences. a minute but active fac simile of the parent in its chry- May 19th, 1749, I arrived from London in the ship salis state is ushered into existence, and immediately Myrtilla, Captain Budden. The Locusts were here in descends into the earth, living about the roots of trees, abundance. until, at the appointed time, it returns to the surface 1766, Locusts came again. for the purpose of undergoing the change, and of con 1783, Locusts came again. tinuing its species. It seeks refuge among the trees 1800, Locusts came again. from its enemies, the birds, as well as for the purpose of 1817, Locusts came again. propagation. If a glass vessel be filled with light earth and the animal soon after it has quitted the egg be placed on the surface, it will be seen after a very short time at the bottom endeavoring to force its way still deeper-when first hatched it is quite white, but afterwards takes the color of its earthy habitation Like the Indians they exist in separate tribes, occupying a distinct section of country, making their appearance in different years, but invariably after the same interval of time. Thus have I known this extraordinary insect appear the middle of May, and disappearing about the 25th or four times in Pennsylvania, always coming out about 26th of June. They neither eat the leaves of the trees, or the fruit the bark of the tender shoots of various trees, inject -nor have they ever injured the grain; they perforate their long worm like eggs, and then die away.' From the U. S. Gazette. LOCUSTS.-We have been disposed to ridicule the reOn the 27th June, 1815, I saw a portion of one of ports circulated in the papers, of the death of several their countless tribes to the west of the Allegheny children from the sting of locusts. But, we learn, that mountains, extending if I am not mistaken from the the bite of this noisy visitor, has, in several instances, summit of the chestnut ridge into the state of Ohio, be- proved fatal. A black boy, in or near New Castle, yond Steubenville, occupying every shrub and tree ex- (Del.) last week, gathered several locusts, and put cept the pines, and the black walnut, hickory, and some them into his hat, to be carried to school. While thus few of the same genus. On my return in the latter end confined, the animals bit his head in several places; in of the following month, not an individual of the myriads a short time, the places bitten became inflamed; the which had occupied that space was to be seen-the head swelled very much, and the boy died in a few tops of the forests for upwards of a hundred miles ap-hours afterwards. We saw several sores on a person's peared as if scorched by fire. hand, caused by the bite of locusts, In 1832, just seventeen years from the period mentioned, I noticed a newspaper paragraph copied from a country paper which stated that the locusts had appear ed in that quarter in large numbers. The northern parts of Jersey and Pennsylvania were visited by them in 1826, when I had another opportunity of seeing this extraordinary insect. On my way from Easton through Jersey to Milford in Pike county, Pennsylvania, I fell in with a very numerous bodyhow far they extended I was unable to learn, but they did not disappear from my route until after passing a large part of Pike county, a distance by the road of more than sixty miles from where I first saw them on the 23d of May;-the weather had been extremely hot and dry during the preceding three weeks. COAL OPERATIONS. Coal operations of 1833 and 1834, compared at a Ditto 1834, up to ditto, Shipped from Schuylkill Coal re- I am not aware that they prefer one kind of soil to Decrease on Schuylkill in 1834, another, if both be sufficiently dry-trees and shrubs appear necessary as places of deposits for their eggs-Sent from Lackawanna mines by and consequently though numerous in the State House Square, none can be found in Washington Square, which in 1817 was destitute of trees. Hudson and Delaware Canal com- 17,722 Tons. 20,365 2,643 37,602 Tons. 26,837 30,765 9,900 Tons. Ditto 1834, up to ditto, none reported-have but Extract of a Letter from the Editor, dated HARRISBURG, May 24, 1834. I left Pittsburg on Wednesday evening, at 15 minutes past eight P. M. and arrived at Chambersburg at half past seven, on Friday morning, and expected to reach Harrisburg that afternoon at about 4 o'clock. I soon discovered that the Good Intent Line had been ordered from the Carlisle and Harrisburg road to the route by Gettysburg and York to Columbia, and the passengers conveyed thence to Philadelphia by the Rail Road. Owing to this change I was compelled to wait for the Telegraph Line, which leaves Chambersburg every morning at 3 o'clock. mous amount of travelling will daily pass through our state, and what immense sums of money will be left in the intervening country? I have just heard it remarked, by an intelligent New Yorker, that when their canal was opened, the novelty of that mode of conveyance attracted a good deal of travel, to the great injury of the stages; but this novelty very soon wore off, and it was soon found that the completion of the canal had greatly benefited instead of injuring the stage proprietors. So, I have no doubt, our Pennsylvania Improvements will also operate-they will produce increased business, and increased travelling is a necessary consequence. KITTANNING AND BROOKVILLE STATE ROAD. We have just conversed with Messrs. Sloan, Duncan, and Cobbett, who were appointed by the late act to lay out a State Road from this place to Brookville, in Jefferson county. They reached this borough yesterday morning, having completed the survey to their entire satisfaction. The distance is forty-two miles and ninety-six perches, graded at five degrees. The ground over which it passes is generally good-scarcely any rocky or mirey places on the route. The road crosses Redbank creek at Mr. Yost Smith's, about midway between the fording and the dam. The Mahoning hill is 700 feet high, and required a length of a mile and 164 perches to ascend it at five degrees; from thence to this borough, by the route surveyed, there are no other hills of any consequence to be overcome. This will be a valuable and important road to the people both of this county and Jefferson. Kittanning Gaz. June 4. SPEEDY ARRIVAL.-The steamboat from New York, Thus I had before me an entire day for idleness or reflection-and it occurred to me that, in April, 1805, the first stage crossed the mountains-the same Good Intent Line in which I had just reached Chambersburg. In the latter part of the month of April, 1805, I left Pittsburg, for N. Jersey, on my way from Burr's expedition. The stage then left Pittsburg once a week, and reached Philadelphia in 7 days of most la- with the morning papers, reached this city, yesterday, a few minutes after one o'clock, and we were enabled, borious and fatiguing travel. Four and a half most toil-by extra exertion, to furnish some interesting extracts some days were spent, in 1805, in reaching Chambers-in our Gazette, without delaying its publication more burg; a point which I had now reached in less than one than a few minutes after the usual hour. The facilities and a half days--and during each of those four and a of intercourse between New York and Philadel half days, much more fatigue was endured than in the phia, are now so perfect, that this extraordinary speed day and a half now spent in a rapid journey over the will probably be obtained daily, without difficulty. If whole distance. At the former period, the stages would average almost two miles per hour in going from so, we shall continue the plan which we commenced Pittsburg to Chambersburg-now they average from yesterday, not doubting but that the arrangement will four to five. If there is so much improvement in the prove highly gratifying to our readers. Phila. Gaz. May 22. speed of the travelling, the increase in the amount of travelling is still greater. Twenty-nine years ago, one stage left Philadelphia every week, for Pittsburg-now, not less than six or seven stages leave Philadelphia and Baltimore every day, for Pittsburg and Wheeling, exclusive of the travelling by the Pennsylvania Canals, and also exclusive of the intercourse with the West, through Virginia and New York. Such retrospects are always agreeable to me—they are also useful in assisting us to form correct estimates of future improvements. I believe it has uniformly been found that the anticipations of the most sanguine, as to the improvement of the country, have fallen short of the reality. When the Pittsburg Gazette was established, there was no regular mail to Pittsburg, and the editor of that paper had to depend upon casual conveyance for papers. Shortly after that time, Col. George Morgan, of Morganza, expressed, at a dinner table in Philadelphia, his belief that there would be a weekly mail to Pittsburg in less than twenty years!-he was laughed at-but a much less time saw his predictions fulfilled. In the last twenty-nine years, stage travelling, from the Ohio to Philadelphia and Baltimore, has increased at the rate of at least 36 to 1-if it should increase at any thing like the same rate during the next thirty years and I have no doubt that it will-what an enor RAIL ROAD.—Cars with passsengers are now running daily on the Rail Road from Columbia to Philadelphiafare $3. The Good Intent line of stages, which heretofore ran from Chambersbug via Carlisle and Harrisburg to Philadelphia, now run via Gettysburg and York to Columbia, from whence the passengers are convey. ed on the rail road to Philadelphia. REGISTER OF PENNSYLVANIA. DEVOTED TO THE PRESERVATION OF EVERY KIND OF USEFUL INFORMATION RESPECTING THE STATE. VOL. XIII.-NO. 25. EDITED BY SAMUEL HAZARD. PHILADELPHIA, JUNE 21, 1834. NO. 337. HOUSE OF REFUGE-ANNUAL REPORT. The Sixth Annual Report of the House of Refuge of To the Contributors of the House of Refuge. Mr. John Maylin, and Mr. Tilghman Culp, until the 1st of March last, since which time it has heen filled by the present teacher, Mr. Z. B. Nichols. The time is too short to warrant the Board in speaking positively of his qualifications, but they are gratified in being able to say that he has hitherto given entire satisfaction, and in their opinion, bids fair to become a valuable officer. The Sunday Schools continue to be under the direction of the same gentleman and his associates, of whom mention is made in the last annual report. Their able and judicious management continues to be blessed with good fruits, and to entitle them to the renewed thanks of the board and the community. The Board have great satisfaction in being able to report to the contributors that the history of the Refuge for the year just ended, presents, in their opinion, very strong evidence of its beneficial operation. The No alteration has been made in the arrangement of the numbers received into the House have been 91; to workshops. The inmates are employed advantageouswit, 68 males and 23 females. The numbers boundly to themselves, as they acquire some skill, and— out during the same period have been 76. The admis. which is of more importance-habits of industry and sions, it will be perceived, have been fewer than usual. order. The Board have pleasure in adding that their The indentures have been more numerous than in any labours are quite as productive of profit to the estaformer year. They may state also, as a circumstance blishment as could be expected from boys of their age. which has a material bearing upon the usefulness of the The Treasurer's report will show a result from this Institution, that the ages of those received have been source of more than twenty-nine hundred dollars. less advanced than those of their predecessors. They feel themselves encouraged, therefore, to repeat to the contributors what they said to the legislature in their last report to that body, that "from all these circumstances, combined conclusions are drawn highly favorable to the system, and to the particular establishment. General causes of improper conduct are not reduced.Vice and ignorance exist, and crimes are the natural consequence of them. If fewer have been exhibited in the conduct of the young, the result may be imputed, partially at least, to the good effects which have been produced by a well organized House of Refuge, In the early stages of error, individuals have been with drawn by it from the sphere where they could most readily indulge in bad practices, and have been led into a better course of life. In removing the particular individual, the evil example he afforded is also deprived of its effect. Confidence in the efficacy of the plan is daily gaining strength. Throughout many parts of the country, persons are now pursuing an honest course of industry, who were rescued from a career of idleness by the restraints and influences of this place." We may add, in further illustration of its happy tendency, that one who was an inmate of the House, is at this time a life subscriber for its support. Letters received from those with whom the inmates have been placed under indentures are in general satisfactory and encouraging. In connection with this remark, we would repeat the urgent solicitation of the Board, especially dwelt upon in the last annual report, that in committing to the Refuge, magistrates will discriminate as to age. We cannot sufficiently express to them our sense of the great importance of sending none in whom there is reason to fear that habits of vice may bave become fixed. They do great injury to the other inmates, while little good can be hoped for to themselves. The Board are happy to say, that the general health of the establishment has been good. There have been some cases of intermittent and remittent fever. But one death has occurred in the course of the year, and that was of congestion of the brain. Divine service is regularly performed in the chapel twice every Sunday. Clergymen of different denominations officiate in this labour of charity with great zeal, to the manifest edification of the household. The Board are happy to bear testimony to the regularity and good deportment of the inmates in their attendance, upon worship. The Board also feel themselves called upon to acknowledge their obligations to the medical gentlemen who have given their valuable services to the establishment, for the cheerful promptness with which they have obeyed every call, as well as for the skill and ability they have manifested in the gratuitous application of the resources of their art in every case of need. Perhaps the board ought scarcely to consider this an individual distinction, since the medical profession in Philadelphia has always been characterized by humanity and active charity, but rather to say that their conduct has been worthy of their profession. The duties of the superintendent, matron, and other officers of the Institution, have been discharged in a manner entirely satisfactory to the board. The Board continue to hold their stated meetings every month. The Executive Committee meet weekly, and the Visiting Committee twice a week. The Board have never had occasion to adjourn for want of a quorum. The Ladies' Committee meet monthly, and their Visiting Committee weekly, at the House. The Board have to repeat the acknowledgment of the valuable aid received from them, especially in the female department. They are sensible, indeed, that the administration would be materially defective without their judicious suggestions and assistance. A legacy of two hundred dollars has been bequeathed to the House by the late General Robert Wharton. Mr. Neville resigned his situation as teacher on the He was one of the early and active friends of the esta1st day of September last. The Board have pleasure blishment, contributed one hundred dollars originally, in bearing testimony to his merits, and to the ability and always felt a lively interest in its welfare. His and fidelity with which he performed his duty. After testimony in its favour must be entitled to particular re. his resignation the place was occupied successively by spect, as he had the best opportunity of judging of its VOL. XIII. 49 66 66 value, from the experience he had had, during the ma- Paid borowed money to John S. Henry, Esq. The success of the establishment in accomplishing the purposes for which it was designed, must put an end to all doubts as to its usefulness, and furnish a new and increased claim for the support of liberal patronage. The number received into the House since the 1st of May, 1833, has been, as already stated, 91; the number discharged 98; there remain 157. The ordinary expenses of the year do not vary materially from those of preceding years. But the Board have been obliged to encroach upon their means to the amount of $2,406 17, to pay for curbing and paving in Coates street, opposite the Refuge grounds. To provide for this large expenditure has put the Board to considerable inconvenience. For more particular information, the Board refer to the Treasurer's account, and the reports herewith submitted. Balance, $2,000 00 Commercial Bank, 3,000 00 1,478 94 $26,131 37 $453 17 CR. Balance on hand as pr. last annual report, 66 money borrowed on in 2,911 55 294 34 66 from A. Benson & Co. for The library, as is known, was originally founded by the aid of benevolent contributions, chiefly from the booksellers. A small annual appropriation has since been made for its support, and this, together with the kind donation by the Sunday School Union of two copies of every work published by the Society, has been the chief source of its increase. Considering how very useful a part of their plan this library is, the managers desire again to draw the public attention to it, and to invite the support of those who may have it in their power, by the donation of good books, to enlarge its Balance in Treasury May 1, 1834, means of usefulness. They would especially remind booksellers and publishers how very thankful they would be for aid in this way. 76 31 In the course of the winter the House was visited and examined by a committee of the legislature. The TO THE REPORT OF THE MINORITY OF THE Board have great pleasure in exhibiting, in the appendix to this report, the testimony borne by these distinguished visiters, of the character and usefulness of the institution. Besides the gratification to themselves from such high approbation, they cannot but deem it encouraging that the nature and the fruits of the establishment are thus commended to the people of Pennsylvania from a quarter always looked to with respect and confidence. In conclusion, the Board have the melancholy task to perform, of announcing to the contributors the loss, by death, of one of their brethren, the late Jos. S. Inglis, Esq. Estimable as a man, and distinguished for the conscientious discharge of all his duties, he brought to the post assigned to him as a manager,zeal, intelligence and industry, which rendered him eminently useful, and along with them, social qualities, which made him highly acceptable to his colleagues. All which is respectfully submitted. JOHN SERGEANT, President. BANK INVESTIGATION COMMITTEE. (Continued from page 382) No. 19. Committee Room, (North American Hotel.) Sir-I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 29th instant, and having submitted it to the consideration of the Committee of Investigation, have been authorized to present to you the following reply: The committee regret to find that the character of the resolutions heretofore adopted by them, and of which copies have been forwarded to you, is much misunderstood. In your letter of the 29th, it is said “that the Committee of Investigation have not come to any decision" as to the mode of proceeding to be adopted. The propriety or justice of such an allegation is not perceived. The committee have decided and made known to you that decision, that they have the power to compel the production of the books and papers of the Bank for inspection; that they have the power to make such inspection in the presence of those only who House of Refuge in Account with Thomas Earp, Treasurer. may be by the committee required or invited to attend, and to exclude from their room all persons whatever, who, by their presence, may in any degree tend to impede the progress of the inspection of the books and papers, or incommode the members of the committee in the discharge of the high duties devolved on them by the House of Representatives. The committee reserve the right to exercise that power when it shall become necessary, and in the manner which their sense of propriety, and desire to do justice to the bank and the country, may dictate. They hope that nothing will occur, in the course of this scrutiny, which may render it proper for them to decide upon and exercise the full extent of the powers conferred upon them by the House; and are happy to learn "there is no practical difference between the views of the Board and those entertained by the committee." They will be glad to know whether they are authorized to conclude that the room which has been offered for their accommodation at the banking house, can be conveniently set apart for their exclusive use and occupation, from ten o'clock A. M. until three P. M. during their continuance in Philadelphia. The committee assure the Committee of directors, that it is their desire to conduct the investigation at the place mutually convenient to them and the officers of the Bank, and in a manner calculated to work no "injustice or oppression An answer, consistent with your earliest convenience, to so much of this commuuication as relates to the occupation of the room in the banking house, is respectfully requested. I have the honor to be, Your obedient servant, To John Sergeant, Esq. FRANCIS THOMAS. The committee of the Board did not say "that the Committee of Investigation had not come to any decision as to the mode of proceeding to be adopted." They do not know, nor can they, without failing in the respect due to themselves, pretend to know, what may have been, or what may be, the decisions of the Committee of Investigation, except so far as the committee may think fit to communicate them. Accordingly, their letter of the-ult. was founded entirely on the resolu tions of the-ult. copies of which were transmitted to them by the Committee of Investigation; and the passage above quoted, with its context, referred especially to the following sentence in the second of those resolutions, to wit: "But this committee has not determined that it will become necessary to perform that duty out of the presence of those charged by the Directors to submit the same to the inspection of the Committee." Comparing this with the resolutions of the Board of Directors, heretofore handed to the Committee of In Chairman of the Committee of Board of Direc- vestigation it did appear to the Committee of the Board, tors of Bank U. S. No. 20. Bank of the United States, May 1, 1834. Sir-I have the honor to acknowledge your letter of the 30th of April. It has been laid before the Committee of the Board, and by their direction, I make the following reply: that there was no decision upon this material point, and, therefore, that there was " as yet no practical difference." verned the Committee of the Board, it is not their inActing upon the same principle that has hitherto gotention to question the statatement of the Committee of Investigation," that they have the power to compel the In saying that, according to the tenor of the resolu- That such is the opinion of the committee of Investigaproduction of the books and papers of the Bank," &c. tions of the Committee of Investigation of the 29th ult. tion they have no doubt, and, as their opinion, the Comthere was "as yet no practical difference" between the mittee of the board freely admit its claim to high reCommittee and the Board, the Committee of the Board spect. It is only when ceasing to be opinion merely, it still think the language they used was correct and ap- shall come in conflict with the rights of the Bank, or of propriate. It is true, that in these resolutions the Com-those intrusted with its administration, (if ever that mittee of Investigation had asserted a power which should happen,) that the Committee of the Board will might perhaps have been controverted. But it was not find themselves bound, however reluctantly, to examine the intention of the Committee of the Board to discuss its application. or question the powers of the Committee of Investigation in the abstract, or as matter of opinion, but simply to set forth their own views of what they believe to be the rights of the Bank, and of the individual citizens intrusted with its administration. The "practical difference," according to the view of the Committee of the Board, would only occur when there should be an actual, as distinguished from a theoretical collision; that is to say, when an exertion of power, attempted by the Committee of Investigation, should be met by an assertion of right on the part of the Board, incompatible with its prosecution. Such a state of things would be extremely to be regretted. It must, nevertheless, be conceded that a case might be presented, in which the committee of the Board would be compelled, by a deep sense of duty, to consider their rights, and to act upon their own views of them. Among the risks incident to an error of judgment in deciding, they would esteem it one of the greatest, that their conduct might by possibility, be imputed, however unjustly, to a want of due respect for the Committee of Investigation, or for the high source from which their authority is derived. In reply to that part of your letter in which you inquire whether the Committee of Investigation "are authorized to conclude that the room which has been offered for their accommodation at the banking house can be conveniently set apart for their exclusive use and occupation, from 10 o'clock A. M. until 3 o'clock, P. M. during their continuance in Philadelphia." I am directed by the Committee to say that they still have, as they always have had, every disposition to accommodate the Committee of Investigation, and such they are persuaded is the disposition also of the Board. The committee find their authority in this respect set forth in the resolutions of the Board of the 28th of April, communicated to the Committee of Investigation on the same day, by which it appears that the Board directed them to offer to the Committee of Investigation a room in the banking house for its accommodation, and appointed them a Committee of Directors to exhibit the books and papers according to the requirement of the charter." But the Board at the same time declared that they could not, "consistently with their sense of duty to the Bank, and of the obligations of the Under the influence of these feelings, and with a trust committed to them, consent to give up the custostrong desire that the investigation might be conducted in a manner satisfactory to both the parties, the Com- dy and possession of the books and papers of the Bank, mittee of the Board gladly embraced the belief-it may of the Committee appointed by the Board." The Comnor to permit them to be examined but in the presence be that their strong inclination led them too hastily to mittee of the Board have great pleasure in renewing to believe-that there was, "as yet, no practical differ- the Committee of Investigation the offer of the room, ence." If in this they misunderstood the terms of the in the manner pointed out by this resolution, and in tenresolutions of the Committee of Investigation, they will be ready to receive explanation of the committee. Idering any further serv ce in their power that can prothis or any other matter, to correct the misunderstand. mote the convenience of the Committee of Investigaing. They deem it due however, to the Committee of Investigation, as well as to themselves, to say further, that in the letter of the Committee of Investigation, of the 30th ult. there appears to be a misapprehension of the tion. I have the honor to be, Your obedient servant, meaning of the Committee of the Board, in their letter The Hon. Francis Thomas, of the 29th ult. Chairman of the Committee of Investigation. |