SINGULAR.-The Enquirer of this morning gives an account of the drowning of a coloured man, named Henry Wilson, who was said to have drowned at the mouth of the Schuylkill, but whose body was taken from the Delaware, on the 9th ins'. opposite Pine The Enquirer remarks that "when it is street wharf. remembered that the tide of the river runs down every twelve hours, two hours longer than it floats up, some surprise may be expressed that the body was di covered in the Delaware at the place above mentioned." A case of like character occurred some years since in this city, and was brought before the Court of Oyer and Terminer. A coloured man was heard to threaten the life of his wife. He shortly after went out. in her company and returned late at night alone. He said that he was walking on one of the wharves on the Delaware front of the city, and that his wife fell in and was drowned. Several days after the body of his wife was found opposite the city in the Schuylkill; and the fact was deemed sufficient to authorize the arrest and commitment of the husband on the charge of murder. It was proven to the satisfaction of most persons present, that it was impossible that the wife could have fallen into the Delaware and floated up the Schuyl kill; but as there was nothing but circumstantial evidence against the prisoner, he was, against the conviction of nearly every person who heard the trial, acquitted by the Jury.-Phil. Gaz A TORNADO. GETTYSBURG, JULY 7. A very destructive tornado passed over the eastern part of this county, and on through York county as far as our information extends, on Saturday evening, the 27th ult. Among the property destroyed, were the house and barn of Mr. John Strausbaugh, two houses owned by Mr. Henry Lilly, a house occupied by a Mr. Little, the gable end of a brick house of Mr. John Hildt. Some barns were also torn down, and others unroofed-and, of course, the destruction of out buildings, fencing and timber was very great, besides the irreparable injury done to the crops. METEOROLOGICAL REGISTER. Extract from the Meteorological Register, taken at the State Capital-Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. FEBRUARY, 1835. Mean, 27 Mean, Below Zero. CHESTER COUNTY CONTRIBUTIONS FOR THE | Amount of Cash paid David Townsend for the use of BLIND. At a meeting of the Committee appointed to concert measures to present the claims of the Blind to the citizens of Chester County, held at West Chester on Monday evening, the 1st of June, 1835, it was Resolved, That the Chairman of the Committee be requested to transmit the money, collected by the several township Committees, to the Pennsylvania Institution for the instruction of the Blind; and that a Statement of the contributions of the Townships respectively be published in the Newspapers of the county. West Chester, Pa. June 2, 1835. Sir,-In obedience to the instructions of the commit. tee, appointed to concert measures to present the claims of the Blind to the citizens of Chester County, I have the honor to enclose to you, for the use of "The Pennsylvania Institution for the instruction of the Blind," a Draft upon David Townsend, Esq. for nine hundred twenty nine dollars and twenty-six cents ($929 26,)-that being the amount of the contributions, from the several townships, in aid of said Institution. It is proper to add, that this remittance has been delayed somewhat longer than was originally intended, for the purpose of allowing full time for all the Townships to send in their contributions to the Treasurer of the central Committee; some of which, however, have not yet been heard from. I am very respectfully, Your obedient servant, Sir, The Treasurer of the Pennsylvania Institution for the instruction of the Blind, received yesterday your letter of June 2d, authorizing him to draw upon David Townsend, Esq. for nine hun red and twenty nine dollars and twenty-six cents, being the amount of the contributions of the citizens of Chester County in aid of the said Institution-for which sum he has accordingly drawn. In behalf of the Board of Managers of the Institution, I take the earliest opportunity to express the high sense we have of your zealous exertions, and that of your committee in making this very handsome collection, and I beg you to assure them that we feel very grateful for the interest they have felt in our charitable enterprise, and the kind assistance they have contributed towards it. At the same time we must ask you to convey to the contributors in the County of Chester, our acknowledgments for the liberality with which they have answered this appeal to their benevolence. We trust that the advancement of our Pupils in all branches of useful knowledge, will continue to excite the interest and justify the generosity of our fellow citizens. I am Sir, With the highest respect, Your obedient servant, J. FRANCIS FISHER, To WM. DARLINGTON, ESQ. the Blind. East Caln, Issachar Price Andrew Brown Isaac Wayne W. Kenney E. Fallowfield, Daniel Kent West Fallowfield, James Haslett East Goshen, J. Eldridge J Sharpless Kennett, Thomas Marshall Wm. Jackson Joseph Jefferis Thomas Seal W. F. Parke & J. Chandler 8 0008 00 1835.] Sadsbury, James Trueman James Smith Thornbury, A. Darlington, jr. Tredyffrin, Robert T. Evans Uwchlan, James Williamson Simon Hawley Frederick Sheeder Wm. Rogers Thomas Jones PROCEEDINGS OF COUNCILS. 11 00 21 00-42 00 9 00 -09 00 8 00 17 75--25 75 28 25 11 62. -39 87 19 54 3 0022 54 5 50 40 08 East Vincent, E. Whiteland, 20 00 68 00 41 Mr. Roach presented a petition in relation to the insufficiency of the culvert in Dock street, to carry off the water, and praying that the evil may be remedied. Referred to the paving committee. Mr. M'Creedy presented a petition from John Cowroy, occupant of the house No. 85 south Fifth street, praying for indemnity for damage to his property, occasioned by the overflowing of the public sewer in his vicinity. Referred to paving committee. Mr. M'Creedy a petition from the superintendants for cleansing the city, praying for an advance of salary. Referred to the committee on cleansing the city. Mr. Price presented a petition in favor of a Saturday evening market, in the Second street Market house. Referred to committee on Markets. The President submitted a communication from A. D. Bache, Secretary of the Faculty of Arts, inviting 3 00--106 00 Councils to be present at the exercises of the commencement, at the Pennsylvania University, on the 30th instant. 10 00 10 00 The foregoing statement is from the Treasurer's Books. The committee have endeavored to be correct; but there may possibly be some errors of detail, in consequence of remittances from townships being sometimes made through persons who were not committee men,-or not residents of the proper township from which the contribution was actually made. THE LATE DR. THOMAS C. JAMES. At a meeting of the Council of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, held at the Philosophical Hall, on Wednesday evening, the 15th July, 1835, Joshua Francis Fisher, offered the following resolutions, which were seconded by John Vaughan, and unanimously adopted: Resolved, That the Council of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, learn, with deep regret, the death of their venerable Vice President, Dr. Thomas C. James, whose urbanity, literary acquirements, and eminent ta. lents, had gained him the esteem and friendship of his associates;—and whose memory will long be cherished by all who had the happiness of meeting him in this Hall. Resolved, That J. R. Tyson be requested to write a biographical Memoir of Dr. James, which will illustrate his literary and personal character, to be printed in the next half volume of this Society's transactions. Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be conveyed to the family of the deceased, with the assurance of the hearty condolence of the members of the Council in this afflicting dispensation of Providence. WILLIAM RAWLE, Presid't. ROBERTS VAux, PETER S. DUPONCEAU, Vice Pres'ts. JOSEPH HOPKINSON, [Several other petitions, of a character similar to those noticed in the proceedings of Common Council, were presented and referred.] Mr. Price offered the following preamble and resolutions which were adopted Whereas, means have already been taken to express the peculiar sense of the loss which the country has sustained by the death of the late Chief Justice of the United States, and the profound grief which has affected the community on that melancholy event; and whereas, it is fit that the actions, character and services of illustrious citizens whose career has been most eminently honorable to themselves and beneficial to their country, should be adequately pourtrayed and commemorated, therefore. the city of Philadelphia, That Horace Binney be inviResolved, by the Select and Common Councils, of ted to pronounce an eulogium on the life of John Marshall. Resolved, That the Presidents of Councils be requested to communicate the foregoing invitation to H. Binney. An election was entered into for a member of the Board of Trustees of the Philadelphia Gas Works in the place of Benj. W. Richards; Esq. resigned, which resulted in the choice of Dr. John K. Mitchell. COMMON COUNCIL. The President submitted and read a communication from "the American Philosophical Socicty for the Promotion of Useful knowledge," in relation to the acceptance by that body of the terms proposed by Councils for building a city observatory, and stating that they had taken measures for providing their share of the amount necessary for the erection of the same. Also a communication from the managers of Wills' Hospital, informing Councils of the resignations of Samuel Spackman and Thomas Snowden, as members of the Board. Mr. Rowland presented a petition for repaving Randolph's Court, Second street, between Race and Vine. Referred to Paving Committee. The President submitted a communication from a large body of the Mechanics and Working Men, on the subject of Councils taking into consideration, the opening of a walk across the Independence Square, from George to Library sts. to facilitate the passage of ctizens through the Square. Referred to Committee on Public Squares. Mr. Rowland presented a petition for placing flag stones in Front street between Jones' alley and High street, to remedy the great inconvenience caused by the water covering the street during heavy rains, &c. Referred to Committee on Paving. Dr. Huston offered several petitions praying Councils to purchase the Burial Ground on Franklin Square.Referred to Committee on Public Squares. Mr. Lancaster presented a petition from the Southwark Hose Co. praying Councils for leave to enlarge their Carriage House. Mr. Lancaster states that the Company merely asked leave, as touching the expenses they would liquidate that with the funds of the Company. Referred to Committee on Markets. Mr. Lancaster also presented a petition from citizens in the neighborhood of Dock street, petitioning Councils to cause to be constructed a culvert, &c. to prevent a recurrence of the serious evil caused by the late storms in that section. Referred to paving committee. And further, a petition of 142 citizens for the purpose of obtaining leave to hold a Saturday evening market in the New Market, 2d st. between Pine and Cedar st., for the convenience of working men and others. Referred to the committee on Markets. Dr. Huston presented the report of Committe on lighting and watching, in relation to the petition of Philip Banks, who some time since prayed Councils to remunerate him for the loss he sustained in quelling a riot during the last election, by having his coat torn and hat lost, and also suffering severely from rheumatic affections, caused by standing in the water at a fire, in pursuance of his duty as a watchman; the committee reported that they could see no reason why the prayer of the petitioner should be granted-they therefore asked to be discharged from any further consideration of it. Agreed to, and report accepted On motion of Mr. Fraley, Select Council was informed that Common Council would join them in joint meeting, to elect members to serve in place of the gentlemen resigned. Messers. Lewis & Rowland were appointed tellers, and the election resulted in the choice of M. W. Baldwin, Esq. to serve as trustee of Girard College, in stead of Thos. M'Kean Pettit, resigned, and Saml. English, in place of Saml. Spackman, as manager of Wills' Hospital. The question was then taken on the amendment of Mr. Earp, and lost; Dr. Huston's amendment was then tested and was also rejected. At this stage of the proceedings Mr. Dunlap rose and offered a resolution that the Comm ttee on Public Squares be invested with authority to offer the Congregation $35,000 for the lot in question. Resolution adopted. Select Council having informed Common Council that they had appointed Messrs. Wiegand, Price and M'Credy, on behalf of their body, to wait upon the Mayor and Presidents of Baltimore City Councils, now in this city, and shew them the usual courtesies due their mission and rank. Messrs. Fraley, Chandler and Williams, were appointed by Common Council to cooperate with the Committee of the other Council. On motion adjourned. It may be deemed necessary to state that in the case of Thomas Snowden, the cause of that gentleman's resignation as a member of the Board, was in consequence of his removing from the city. Having returned, that difficulty became obviated, and he therefore consented to serve under a re-election. From the Journal of the Franklin Institute. First Report of the Joint Committee of the American The Joint Committee of the American Philosophical Society, and the Franklin Institute of the State of Pennsylvania, return thanks for valuable meteorologi cal journals, received from the following gentlemen. Mr. R. H Gardiner, Gardiner, Maine. Mr. Jacob Mull, U. S. Navy, Portsmouth, New Mr. James Porter Hart, Farmington, Mass. Thomas Snowden was unanimously re-elected. Council then entered into a consideration of the unfinished business relative to the report of the committee appoint. ed by Councils to effect a compromise with the German Only four months have elapsed since the reception Congregation for the burial ground upon Franklin of the earliest of these journals, and already some val Square. The question of continuing it in the Com-uable facts have been deduced from a comparison of mittee of the Whole, with whom it had been left when the simultaneous observatious which they contain. last discussed, was debated, but on motion the committee was discharged, and the subject reverted to its original form, to wit: An amendment offered by Dr. Huston upon the resolution accompanying the late report of the committee on Public Squares, the substance of which amendment had been to substitute $50,000, for the sum named in the report. Mr. Fraley moved the postponement of the Dr's amendment, for the purpose of introducing another, reducing the sum named to $40,000. Mr. Earp rose and moved that $30,000 be inserted, and gave as his reasons for the proposition that he had been informed that the German Congregation held the property only for burial purposes and he could not see why they should receive a sum greater than the property would bring if laid out in building lots. Dr. Huston observed that Mr. Earp had been misinformed, as the patent of the Congregation contained no clause restricting its holders to use the ground for bu rials alone, and he could not see why the Congregation should be forced to sell it for less than its real value. Mr. Chandler supported the Dr. and was opposed by Mr. Williams and Fraley. A detailed report of all general conclusions, with the data on which they are founded, will be given hereaf ter; but as this will require a considerable length of time, and a much more extensive collation of journals, than the committee have yet in their possession, they will mention, with a view to increase the zeal of their correspondents, one or two facts, which, from further observations, will probably lead to important general laws. In all the great fluctuations of the barometer which occurred in January and February, at Nashville, Tenn. they were one day sooner than at Philadelphia; and on the 22d of March, the barometer was lowest at Philadelphia at 3 o'clock, P. M; whereas, at Providence, R I. it continued to fall till 9 o'clock, P. M. as very particularly noted by Professor Caswell. The exact moment of greatest depression at Portsmouth is not given by Mr. Mull, but it was lower there at 7 o'clock. P. M. on the 23d, than on the 22d at sunset; at which time it had already risen more than half an inch at Philadelphia. Do these barometric fluctuations of great magnitude travel north-eastwardly? 1835-1 DALLAS' ORATION BEFORE LAFAYETTE COLLEGE: Again, on the 22d of March, at the moment when the barometer was lowest at Philadelphia, the wind at York, Pa., at Flushing, N. Y., at Middletown, Conn., at Providence, R. I., and at Portsmouth, N. H., was blowing towards Philadelphia violently, especially at York and Portsmouth, while at Philadelphia it was a perfect calm. There was also, on that day, a very violent rain at York, and in Berks county, Pa., and at Baltimore, and also a considerable rain at Flushing, Middletown, and Providence, at the same time, when there was a calm in Philadelphia, and no rain; and as this state of things continued for many hours, it seems probable that the air, which moved with great rapidity towards Philadelphia, in opposite directions, must have ascended over Philadelphia, and passed off above even with greater rapidity than it approached below, or otherwise the barometer must have risen, in a very short time, to a great height, by the conflicting impulse of these two opposite currents; but the barometer stood all this time more than three quarters of an inch lower than usual. The committee desire these remarks to be viewed as they are intended, to be confirmed or rejected as future observations, and a more extensive induction, shall warrant. They merely propose the queries: Are rains caused by an upward motion of air, com. mencing where the dew-point is highest, or where the barometer is lowest? Do storms in the temperate zones generally travel from some westerly point? And are those storms which so travel preceded by an easterly wind, and also fol.lowed by a westerly, unless another storm is soon to come on in the same direction? In the torrid zone, do the storms on the north side of the line travel towards the north-west, and on the south side of the line towards the south-west? On the 29th of January, from 8 o'clock, A. M. till 4 o'clock, P. M. there fell at Nashville, Tenn., 1.47 inches of rain. This storm travelled east, and it began to rain at Cincinnati at half past 12 o'clock, and at Philadelphia at 4 o'clock next morning, the 30th; it rained hard all day, terminating at 7 o'clock, P. M. During this whole day, the wind at Nashville and Cincinnati blew towards Philadelphia, and at Flushing, Middletown, Providence, and Portsmouth, directly towards Philadelphia also. This storm lasted eight hours at Nashville, fifteen hours at Philadelphia, twenty-four hours at Flushing, and twenty-seven hours at Portsmouth. The wind set in at all these places some hours before the rain from the north-east, and at the termination of the rain changed to the south-west; and before it ceased raining at Portsmouth, the wind had changed round by south to west at Flushing and Philadelphia, and to the south-west at Middletown. 43 ing in size, until, at Portsmouth, it was 800 miles. Its north-west and south east diameter is unknown. What are these two diameters of storms generally? Our correspondents will perceive that something on this subject is likely to be discovered by a persevering course of simultaneous observations over our wide extended continent. The Joint Committee which now addresses you will spare no means to elicit from your observations, decisive answers to the queries proposed above, and, if possible, to establish such general laws as will entitle meteorology to the name of science. To this end, it is essential that the original observations, and not the mean of several, should be commuicated, and that the number and extent of our correspondents should be increased; we therefore request each one of our correspondents to procure at least two more. It would be very desirable to have different correspondents at places along our northern frontier, and others on our sea-board, from Cape May to Cuba. Also to have some correspondents in the far west; we have none at present farther than Nashville. The committee earnestly request that the present opportunity of discovery may not be lost, that the undertaking may not languish for want of zeal; their correspondents may be assured, even when the committee is silent, that they are constantly at their posts, waiting for the communications with that intense interest which always accompanies sanguine hopes of successful investigation. JAMES P. ESPY, Chairman Joint Committee. CHARLES N. BANCKER, GOUVERNEUR EMERSON, M. D. ALEXANDER 1). BACHE, JAMES P. Espy, Com. of Amer. Philos. Soc. SEARS C. WALKER, PAUL B. GODDARD, M. D. Committee of Franklin Institute. AN ADDRESS DELIVERED IN ZION CHURCH AT EASTON, At the request of the Washington and Franklin Literary Societies of Lafayette College. ON THE FOURTH OF JULY, 1835. BY GEORGE MIFFLIN DALLAS, ESQ. dency in the literary associations of our country to com. We must all derive gratification when noticing a tenbine with their public exercises the sentiments and epochs of patriotism. The two societies, at whose call Even one well authenticated case of this kind goes nificantly selected for periodical exhibition a day of I venture for a while to claim your attention, have sig far to establish the fact that the wind below blows to-national commemoration: a day on which it is scarcely wards the centre of a great rain. From the time of the middle of the storm at Nashville, until the middle of the storm at Philadelphia, was 23 hours and this corresponds well with the fluctuations of the barometer men tioned before. It may be mentioned also, that, reckoning from middle to middle of the storm, it was 30 hours from Nashville to Middletown, and 32 from Nashville to Portsmouth. These all agree in giving a velocity to this storm of about twenty-six miles an hour. Is this the velocity of the upper current of air at Philadelphia, which comes generally from a point south of west? Is it this upper current which gives direction to the storms in this latitude? Many instances have been observed upon a momentary breaking of the lower clouds, in the very middle of these north-east storms, when the clouds above were coming from the south-west. This storm had a north. east, and south-west diameter, at Nashville, of about 200 miles, gradually increas possible for an American citizen to think of any thing but the glories of the land in which he lives, the excellence of its institutions, the brightness and beauty of ploits and wisdom of its founders, the freedom and exits future! In this selection is conveyed a silent, but acknowledged instruction to their present repres enta. tive: directing his efforts to harmonize with the pervading feeling, to swell the general anthem of exultation, and to contribute what he can to invigorate the loftiest of human virtues. I proceed to execute this commis sion in the spirit with which it has been flatteringly confided, and to tender for your indulgent acceptance some observations and recollections congenial to the occasion. Since the Declaration of Independence, issued fiftynine years ago, the achievements and merits of those who made or sustained it, have been annually and most justly the theme of grateful eulogy. In every district of our immense territory, the voice of an emancipated and happy people has untiringly preserved the high |