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self merry, so that she found it impos- || sible to get him to do any thing. Surrounded as he was by scenes of horror, the commodore could not refrain from smiling, as he advised the poor woman to endure her grievance with a little patience. For ourselves, we know not which most to admire-the levity of the boy, the insensibility of the woman, or the cool and collected calmness of the commodore.

The approbatory rewards bestowed on the gallant commander, were numerous, and general. But one more solid and appropriate than the rest, was a grant by the state of New-York, of one thousand acres of land, laying on the shores of the bay in which the action occurred.

After the war, commodore Macdonough was for a short time stationed at Portsmouth, New-Hampshire; but afterwards sailed with the Guerriere, to the Mediterranean. From this station he retired last year, in consequence of a misunderstanding with commodore Stewart, which has since been satisfactorily adjusted, as already related in a former number of the Masonic Register.* At present he resides with his family, at his mansion, in Middletown, Connecticut.

The person and character of commodore Macdonough is described in a late publication, as follows: "He has a fine head, light hair, complexion, and eyes; and his person tall and dignified: strict in his deportment, and exemplary in his piety." In addition, it may be observed, (and certainly no where with more propriety than in this work,) that the commodore is a worthy member of the fraternity; having been initiated several years ago, in one of the lodges in New-York. Did the reputation of the order require support, the character of Macdonough would alone afford a pillar on which it might securely rest, against the most violent assaults of bigotry and intolerance. For where among the

* See "Real Greatness," p. 237. No. vi.

opposers of Masonry, shall we find more piety, more patriotism, or valour, than have been evinced in the spotless life of this heroic seaman.

SIR WILLIAM WALLACE.

In our present number we have given a design, (engraved on wood) representing a well known event in the life of this distingushed chieftain. His valorous achievements, unyielding patriotism, and determined perseverance, have ever been the favourite theme of his countrymen. With every allowance for national predilection, and to none is a greater deduction requisite, than to the characteristic feeling of North Britons, we may still with Hume, consider his "exploits as lasting ob jects of just admiration." The event to which we have alluded is thus narrated by a modern historian: "When the earl of Warrenne advanced to Stirling, he found Wallace encamped in excellent order on the opposite bank of the Forth. Willing to try arts of negociation, he sent two friars to offer conditions of peace"-" Go, said Wallace, tell your masters, we come not here to treat, but to assert our rights, and to set Scotland free: let them advance, they will find us prepared."

Indignant at this reply, the English commanders led their forces across the river; but although opposed by an enemy far inferior to them in numbers, they were at once routed, and almost entirely destroyed.

SAN PIETRO,

A Corsican general, in the 16th century.

San Pietro, called also Bastelica, from the town of Bastia, the place of his birth, in Corsica, was a celebrated general in the French service, during the reign of Francis I, Henry II, and Charles IX. He was born, as it were, with an hereditary hatred to the Ge noese, then sovereigns of Corsica. From his infancy he bore arms against them, and, by his valour and military

skill, became formidable to the republic. His exploits gained him the heart of Vanini Ornano, a very rich and beautiful heiress, the only daughter of the viceroy of Corsica.

Pietro might have lived in tranquillity, protected by this advantageous alliance, had he not supposed that the Genoese never could pardon his offences. Full of this imagination, and of new schemes, he retired into France, with his wife and children, There he served the court very successfully during the civil wars; but still desirous of restoring liberty to his country, he was incessantly endeavouring to disturb the Genoese. He even went to Constantinople to solicit the Turks to send a fleet against them.

During this voyage, the public, attentive to the proceedings of Pietro, sent their agents to his wife, who was then at Marseilles, to induce her to return to her country, by promising the restoration of her fortune, and giving hopes that her placing this confidence in the state would procure a pardon to her husband. The credulous Vanini was persuaded. She first sent away her furniture and jewels, and then set sail, with her children, for Genoa. A friend of Pietro's, receiving early intelligence of this, armed a ship, pursued the fugitive, brought her back into France, and surrendered her to the parliament of Aix.

Pietro, on his return from Constantinople, was informed of this adven

ture.

One of his domestics, who had not sufficient resolution to oppose it, he stabbed with his own hand. He then went to Aix, and demanded his wife. The parliament was unwilling to trust the lady in his power; but the beautiful Vanini, superior to fear, although expecting some fatal event, earnestly solicited to be restored to her husband. Her request was granted, and they set out together for Marseilles. When Pietro came to his own house, he found it unfurnished. This sight roused his fury. Without dearting from the respect he had con

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stantly preserved for his wife, because her descent had been greatly superior to his, he reproached her for her misconduct, declared it could be expiated only by death, and commanded two of his slaves to execute this terrible sentence. "I do not shrink from my fate," cried the heroic Vanini, “but since I must die, I beg, as the last favour, it may not be by the hands of these wretches, but by that of the bravest of men, whose valour first induced me to espouse him." The barbarian whom nothing could soften, sent his executioners away, threw himself at the feet of his wife, called her his queen, and his mistress, embraced her tenderly, implored her pardon in the most humble terms, and caused their children to be introduced. She em

braced them. He wept, with the unfortunate mother, over these melancholy pledges of their affection, put the fatal cord round her neck, and strangled her with his own hands!

Pietro set out immediately for the court, where the news of his crime had arrived before him, and he was forbidden to appear. Notwithstand

ing this, he presented himself before the king, the detestable Charles the ninth. He talked of his services, claimed their reward, and exposing his naked bosom, which was full of scars, What signifies it to the king,' said the savage, what signifies it to France, whether a good or a bad understanding subsisted between Pietro and his wife?' Every person was shocked at the daring behaviour of this maniac; but, nevertheless, he was pardoned.—

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The semblance of heroism which was joined to his guilt,' says the author of L'Esprit de la Ligue, easily pleaded his excuse in a court, where the sovereign himself set examples of violence.' This murder was committed in 1567, seven years before the reign of Henry III.

But Pietro, although he escaped in the sequel, many perils of war, did not go to his grave with impunity. He was slain in an ambuscade prepared

for him by the brothers of his wife, the unfortunate Vanini Ornano.

Such was the detestation in which his crime was held, that his son Alfonso, afterward a marshal of France, and a distinguished warrior, was obliged to renounce his paternal name, and take that of Ornano. He left a son, likewise a marshal of France, who died a prisoner in the castle of Vincennes; and the whole family became extinct, about the middle of the sixteenth century.

AGRICULTURAL.

ON SEED POTATOES.

It may always be observed of every potato, that in the end opposite to that in which it is connected by its stem with the fibrous roots of the plant, the eyes are double in number of those of the other end; and it may also be observed, that the shoots growing from the end having the greatest number of eyes, always start the soonest, and grow most rapidly this circumstance, it would seem, has led to the belief that this end of the potato only ought to be used for seed, as being properly the seed end of the root, and accordingly I perceive a statement in a late paper, published in New-Jersey, that by recent experiments, it has been found, that to cut off about a third of this end of the potato for planting, will afford as great a product as to plant the whole root. If this be correct, two-thirds of the weight of potatoes commonly used for seed may be saved; a matter of no small consequence, as potatoes are much more expensive in the article of seed than any other crop commonly cultivated.

To ascertain the truth of this matter, let the cultivator take, say 40 potatoes, as nearly of any given size as may be, and plant them in a row, putting one potato (uncut) to each hill ; take 40 more of as nearly the same size as can be selected, cut off the seed end of each, so as to include about a

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third of a root, and plant one of these to each hill in a row alongside of the other; give each row the same cultivation; dig them separately, and then weigh or measure the products of each, and the result will be considered as pretty conclusive.

There are other experiments, easily made, and well worthy of attention, in the culture of the potato, and among others, I would recommend the following.

1. To ascertain whether it is most profitable to use the largest, or the smallest potatoes, for seed.

2. What increase of the crop may be obtained by nipping off the blossoms as soon as they appear on the stalks.

3. To ascertain the proper quantity of gypsum that is best adapted for increasing the crop, as too much of this manure produces a luxurious growth of stalks, but not a crorespondent growth in the roots.

4. To ascertain the difference in product that may usually be expected in cultivating the different varieties of the plant, and which, on the whole, quantity and quality considered, are the most profitable for culture.

From an experiment I once made, though not with perfect accuracy, I am induced to believe, that if a potato, weighing not more than an ounce, be planted whole in a hill, and an another weighing eight ounces, be planted whole adjoining it, no essential difference will be found in their products.

A case was lately reported by the Berkshire Agricultural Society, from which it would seem that an increase of about a sixth of the whole amount of a crop of potatoes may be obtained by nipping off the blossoms as soon as they appear on the stalks. Of the truth of this every cultivator may easily satisfy himself.

In regard to the use of gypsum, it will probably be found that merely to immerse the seed potatoes in brine, and then roll them in gypsum, before planting, is the most advantageous method

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yield from forty to fifty quarts of milk. This animal, gave during an uncommon stormy passage of 48 days in the late winter months, a constant profusion of milk, and on her arrival at New-York, being much reduced in flesh, and her hide extremely wounded in many places by chafing against her pen, gave sixteen quarts at one milking. She remained two or three days in the city of Albany, and was inspected by numerous persons amongst whom were some of the most respectable butchers of the place.

They were unanimously of opinion that she was the most remarkable animal they had ever seen. From the buttocks she measures seven feet and centre of her horns, to the end of her a half, and two feet three inches across her hips. Her hide is mellow to the feet, and perfectly silky without any

coarse hairs. Her head and neck are small and remarkably graceful, her ears uncommonly large and smooth, accompanied with a singular transparency. Her carcase is well barrelled out and compact: her legs and tail corresponding in, fitness to her head and neck. The butchers who inspected her, observed, that they never saw any animal with so little offal. was judged to weigh twelve hundred if in condition. She was selected from the first stock in England, and is with calf by the descendant of the famous bull Comet, who sold for a thousand guineas. She is at present removed to the farm of the proprietor in Duanes

She

Recently imported by Mr. G. W. Feather-burgh, who expects a bull of the same breed in the course of the spring.

stonhaugh.

This cow is of that species of the short horned breed called the Holderness.

They are of a large size, but are particularly valued for the remarkable quantities of rich milk which they give. It is on this account that the breed prevails generally in the rich county of Middlesex, for the supply of the city of London with a sufficient quantity of succulent food, and by regular milking three times a day, they

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