pedition is a native of the State of New Jersey, but received his appointment into the navy from the State of Delaware, of which stung loud he is a citizen, on the 19th of adat anh December, 1815. He has been, therefore, nearly forty-six years in the service, and his forty-sixth anniversary brings him more to banglory and raises him higher in the estimation of the people, hodol both at home and abroad, than all the previous ones. Commodore Dupont has spent nearly twenty-two years on sea, eight dio and a half years in active duty on shore, and the balance of his time has been unemployed. His present commission bears date September 14, 1855. He was last at sea in May, 1859, and since that time he has been commandant of the Navy Yard at Philadelphia, where his kindness of manner, together with his strict discipline, won for him many friends. Among the important positions that Commodore Dupont has filled since he has been in the navy, are the following: COMMODORE SAMUEL F. DUPONT, In June, 1836, Commodore Dupont then a lieutenant-commanded the Warren, now the storeship stationed at Panama, N. G., that was attached to the squadron of Commodore A. J. Dallas, cruising in the West Indies. In Dec., 1843, he commanded the U. S. brig Perry, while on the way to Rio de Janeiro, bound to the West Indies. In October, 1845, he also commanded the frigate Congress. She was at that time flagship of Commodore Robert F. Stockton, and was carrying out Mr. Ten Eyck, U. S. Commissioner to the Sandwich Islands, and also Mr. Surrell, United States Consul to the Sandwich Islands. In July, 1846, he was commander of the sloop-of-war Cyane, at the time attached to the squadron of Commodores W. B. Shubrick and Thomas A. C. Jones, in the Pacific: He held other important posts, but these are the only ones that we can recall to our memory at the present time. Commodore Dupont is one who, though past what is usually termed the prime of life, is yet possessed of all the vigor, bodily strength, and ambition which usually characterize younger men, and these qualities, joined to his experience, pronounce him to be the man we need. In his personal appearance the Commodore is a person that would at once attract attention, having all the easy grace of a finished gentleman, together with a commanding look that betokens perseverance and a determination to successfully carry out any undertaking that he may be engaged in. Commodore Dupont, in command of the largest fleet ever seen in American waters, gave his broad pennant to the breeze from the United States ship Wabash, with Gen. Sherman in command of the land forces on board transports, and set sail from Fortress Monroe, under secret orders, for Port Royal, South Carolina, about the 25th of October last. The fleet, which consisted of about fifty vessels, was subjected, for three days and nights, to one of the most terrific gales which has visited our coasts within the past thirty years; but, surprising as it may seem, only two transports were lost. The foremost ships of the fleet reached the mouth of Port Royal on the 2d November, and on the 7th fifteen ships and gunboats opened fire on the forts Walker and Beauregard, and after five hours' cannonading, the rebel flag came down, and its defenders fled with the most undignified precipitation, leaving camp furniture, clothing, watches, money, letters, food half cooked, and meals half eaten. This is regarded as one of the most brilliant naval victories the world has known. The fact of ships approaching within five hundred yards of powerful land batteries, composed of columbiads and rifled cannon of the most powerful description, was a feat of successful and audacious bravery which will astonish the world. It is really wonderful that only eight men were lost on board the fleet, and, with the exception of the burning of one gunboat, no vessel was disabled; while in the forts a perfect shower of bursting shells was poured from the fleet. Beaufort, a beautiful village of several thousand inhabitants, and a place of summer resort, was deserted, except by the colored people, who refused to follow the fortunes of their fleeing masters.-Amer. Phrenological Journal. Col. Ellett, in command of the Ram Fleet at Memphis, is the Charles D. Ellett, Civil Engineer, whose pamphlets criticising General McClellan and urging the construction of the steam rams and iron-clad vessels some time ago, gained him considerable notoriety. Col. Geo. F. Shepley of Maine, who is at present Military Commandant of N. O., has upon the recommendation of Gen. Butler, been appointed Military Governor of Louisiana. YOUTH'S CORNER. Capture and Trial of Master Mousey. BY MRS. HOYT. [PART SECOND.] His Trial by a Jury of all the Children. From raging waves, so milky white, All gathering round then looked at mouse No one of us could claim the prize, All hands had grabbed, all feet pursned, All wanted him, so sleek and brown, But then no one had caught him, quite, As round his cage poor mousey run, How grand the chase! How hotly pressed! Some were a-mind to let him go; To try his case, and judge him there, Would spoil the sugar, gnaw the cheese He hated all the nibbling race, Another said, though all amiss, Such things, he said, should not be done A third then told how many a night. He said they were a wicked race, And as for stockings, hoods and wigs, How could mouse tell such things from figs? He could not know, as girls and boys, He loved to live, and had a right To food by day and bed by night; Or, if he chose, to race about When doors were shut, and lights all out; Just as we love to romp and run; All wanted him, but all agree Then better far than in the chase, Each with bright eyes and happy face, We s'ood awhile around his house And threw him crumbs and said "Good mouse!" The Hare. There are two varieties of hares in Wisconsin: The Grey Rabbit, (Lepus Sylvaticus), and the Varying Hare, or White Rabbit, (Lepus Americanus.) The Grey Rabbit, (which is the most common in the southern portion of the State) when full grown, is about sixteen inches long; color, above, yellowish grey mixed with brown; below, whitish. The White Rabbit is considerably larger than the Grey Rabbit: color, in summer, reddish brown above, and white beneath. In winter, its color changes to white, except a portion of the ears which remain dark. Rabbits have large eyes; ears large and long; tails very short, and curved upward. The feet are entirely covered with hair. The fore legs are short and weak, the hind ones long and muscular, which gives them great strength. bits always travel by making leaps or bounds; sometimes clearing as much as twelve or fifteen feet at a bound; but they usually make short jumps, of from one to two feet. Rab They never trot, like a dog or a fox; nor do they move by a regular walk; always moving their hind feet both at a time. When running, they place their feet in a very singular position; making tracks which appear as though they ran backward; the fore feet being put down close together; sometimes so near as to make only one track; while the hind feet are spread far apart, and are put down so as to track forward of those made by the fore feet. Rabbits are crepuscular; that is, they move about to obtain food or for amusement, in the twilight. In the day time, unless disturbed, they usually remain quiet, in some thicket, or by the side of an old log, or a brush heap. In very cold and stormy weather, they sometimes take refuge in some hollow log or tree; seldom going into holes in the grounds. The White Rabbit seems to avoid the habitation of man, but the Grey Rabbit rather prefers the vicinity of improvements. When unmolested, it will become quite tame. Several years ago a number of them made their abode in a hay-stack. They cut a passage entirely through the stack, and near the centre, made a burrow nearly as times escape by going into a hollow log, or a hollow tree, where it may be easily caught, by cutting a hole, or by punching with a stick, or, it may be "smoked out." Rabbits do not bite, nor in any way defend themselves. They do not have any "call," or make any vocal sound, except when in distress, they sometimes make a sharp, plaintive, wailing cry. The rabbit has several natural enemies, such as foxes, wild-cats, weasels, hawks and owls. Probably the owls are the most destructive on account of being, like the rabbit, of crepuscular habits, which gives them a good opportunity to secure them for their prey. In the winter, rabbits may be easily caught in of the below mentioned vegetables. almost any kind of trap, when baited with any When taken young, they are easily tamed, and make nice pets. They may be fed with clover, cabbage, turnip, carrot, parsnip, &c., and they are particularly fond of sweet apples, and they will eat milk. UNCLE WILLIAM. Geology. A PEEP BEHIND THE CURTAIN.-NO. 2. large as a bushel basket. In the evening they would come out into the garden and door-yard, where I placed cabbage and turnips for them to eat. In a short time they became so tame as to come and sit on the door-steps, and if any one went out, they would not seem to be frightened; merely moving a short distance. It was very amusing to watch them while eating, or playing about. But after awhile, they became mischievous. Before I was aware that they were anything more than harmless, innocent little creatures, they had gnawed the bark from a large number of choice pear and plum trees, entirely girdling them. So I became their enemy, and declared war. In the evening, when they came into the yard, I stood, with gun in hand, ready to take summary vengeance. I killed two at the first fire, and there were three left. I reloaded and shot another, when the other two scampered off. The next evening, I killed one of the two, and the other seceded from the premises. The Grey Rabbit does not have any nest or bed; nor does it appear to ever lie down, like squirrels, and other animals of that class; although the female makes a nest for her young, which is always in some place, convenient to food, and consists of leaves and grass, and sometimes a portion of fur from her own body, and is generally in a slight hollow. In this, the young, usually four in number, remain till they are capable of taking care of themselves. Whenever the old one leaves her young ones, while in the nest, she carefully covers them, so that they are entirely concealed. The rabbit evinces much cunning and ingenuity in eluding the pursuit of a dog; that is, it shows or acts out a good deal of dexterity and ability in escaping or keeping away from a dog. It will turn sud-of iron pyrites which she considers very valudenly aside and stop and wait till the dog passes, when it will return to its track, which it will follow back for some distance, and then again turn off as at first, usually taking an elevated position, sometimes upon a log. Sometimes it will sit erect like a woodchuck, or a bear, so as to have a better view. And sometimes it will pass through shallow ponds of water. When closely pursued, it will some- manufactured. Here is a piece of Iron Pyrites, (Py-ri-tes) ed in the shape of erystals. Sulphuret of iron, which is sulphuret of iron, crystalized or formis a mixture of sulphur and iron. These crystals look like blades or spears of shining steel; sometimes the crystals look like particles of gold, the resemblance being so perfect as to deceive those not acquainted with minerals, and cause them to secure it supposing it to be gold. On account of ignorant persons being deceived so much with it, it has quite properly been called "Fools Gold." minerals can easily be distinguished, gold always being soft, while the other is always But these two fire with steel. I know a lady who has a piece hard, sometimes so hard and solid as to strike able, when in reality it is not worth much of anything except as a specimen. The sulphuret of iron is so abundant in some places, that it is used to manufacture sulphur, by seperating the sulphur from the iron. When exposed to the air and weather, for a long time, it undergoes a chemical change which produces or forms other substances from which alum is UNCLE WILLIAM. |