socierty, and in the short space space of a few months,--on Thursday -(Nov. 16, 1826) this new and splendid House was dedicated to its sacred purpose, by solemn rites and religious services. The Salem Literary Observer presents us with the following description of the performances: Introductory Prayer by Rev. Mr. Brazer; Dedicatory prayer by Rev. Dr. Prince, the senior pastor; Sermon by Rev. Mr. Upham, colleague pastor, from Ezra v. ii:-"We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and build the house that was built these many years ago:" Concluding Prayer by Rev. Dr. Flint. In the course of the services the following beautiful hymn, written for the occasion by Rev. Dr. Flint, was sung:— Again we hail the hallow'd spot. As thou each former house didst own In this thy saving health make known, And be the people's portion still. The footsteps of thy saints we seek, Here be thy sabbaths sanctified, Here be thy service still the same All hail, once more, the hallow'd spot, We cannot abstain from noticing, particularly, among the excellent performances, on this occasion, the devotional ser of the veneral senior pastor-It sunk deep in the hearts of all who heard him. The beautiful simplicity of the interior of this church reflects great credit on the taste of all concerned in its erection.▾ The pulpit may be referred to, as one of the most elegant specimens of cabinet work we have ever seen, This Church was formed and organized on the 6th of August, 1629, four years after the first settlement of the town, and three years before any other Congregational Church on this continent. On that day a Covenant was drawn by Mr. Higginson, who had been elected joint pastor with Mr. Skelton in the month of June previous, and thirty members were adınitted to the Church. The present house has been completed under the superinendence of Messrs. Pickering Dodge, John Gardner, John Pickering, Joseph E. Sprague, and Wm. E. Gardner, a Committee of the Society. The Architects were Messrs. Willard & Banners. Head Carpenter, Mr. David ord-Master Mason, Capt. David Robbins. The Pulpit, which is of Mahogany, was made by Messrs. Kimball & Sargent. The cost of the building was about 16,000 dollars, and we have already mentioned that the basement story. the front of which is of granite, has been leased for Stores at about 1000 dollars per annum. The number of pews on on the floor of the Meeting-House, is 81, and in the gallery, 18. From the N. H. Patriot. BATTLE OF PLATTSBURG. Sept. 11th, 1826, completes the 12th anniversary of the action on Lake Champlain. The writer hereof, then a resident near the frontier and of the number of those who crossed the Lake for the defence of Plattsburg, begs leave to communicate a few particulars of that eventful period, some of which may be new, and all perhaps not uninteresting to the public. The march of Gen. Izard with his command for Sacket's Harbor, was the signal for the advance of before the wind brought her broadside to our Commodore; who immediately relieved the anxiety of the landsmen, by commenceing a the British military and naval forces; and though the "Bulwark of our Religion" has been somewhat scandalized for commencing hostilities on the Sabbath, 11th Septem-powerful and well directed fire.ber, 1814, it appeared they were Thus failing in his project of boaronly prevented by adverse wind, ding, the enemy anchored about from trying their fortune the day fifty rods distant, and then indeed before. They had chosen the 10th, came the "tug of war" between the being precisely a year after the glo- whole fleets. Sir George Prevost, | rious victory of Commodore Perry after the action began, retired for which relying upon their superiority a moment to his quarters in the vilof force, and encouraged by the lage, and remarked in the hearing presence of ten thousand veteran of Col. Platt, that in thirty minutes troops, they confidently expected to the American fleet would be capreverse. Aware of all these cir- tured. Starting up in his bed to cumstances, Com. M'Donough which he was confined by sickness stood on the defensive, and moored the veteran prophetically replied, his fleet with consummate ability in "By heaven,sir, you don't get e'm." Plattsburg Bay, in such position The British commander, after waitthat any vessel engaged with his ing some time and seeing no prosown, would inevitably be raked pect of his prediction being verified, by his brig or schooner during the directed his artillery upon our fort, action. At eight o'clock in the which was spiritedly returned by morning of the 11th, the enemy Gen. Macomb; and with nearly 200 stood proudly within Cumberland pieces engaged upon the water, and Head, the Frigate Confiance lead- the fort batteries, and musketry by ing their line, and a fresh breeze land, awakened the echoes bearing them rapidly along From mountain and lake, which had slept the manner of their opproach, and in peaceful silence since the Gonfrom information obtained after- dola action of Gen. Arnold. The wards of the prisoners, it appeared Captains of two British 74's lying they did not intend to fight a regular at Quebec, who had journeyed to battle, but to run down upon our Cumberland Head to witness the Commodore and carry him by board- triumph of his Majesty's fleet, after ing. One brig opened her fire up- viewing the contest for an hour, with on the Confiance, which, though other eyes than those of Sir George sufficiently near and powerful to Prevost, declared they could not have blown her from the water, did endure the sight any longer, and not return a single shot, but pursu- throwing hy their glasses, retreated ing her plan tacked and stood di- in their boat. Finding his broadrectly for the Saratoga. The A-side nearly disabled, Com. M'Donmerican officers in Fort Moreau,ough attempted the hazardous exsupposing the ships within striking distance, and seeing all silent on board our Commodore, concluded he would surrender without fighting; and the remark "that it would be another Detroit scrape," pas-surrendered, having nearly half of sed indignantly from mouth to mouth. At this moment of intense interest, a shot from the smaller craft disabled the rudder of the Confiance, which obliged her to fall off on periment of turning his ship.Twice the rigging of the cable was cut by the enemy's shot; the third attempt happily succeeded, and opened his fire afresh, the Confiance her crew killed or wounded, and 105 round shot in her hull. Commodore Downie of the Confiance was killed early in the action, whether by a splinter or near ap proach of a passiug ball, was unknown. The flesh was discolored from the groin across the stomach, but the skin was said to have remained unbroken. Thus terminated this momentous conflic, the second brilliant triumph of our navy in sqadron, and the most successful instance of maritime defence since the days of Barrington and Hood. But alas!-the Hero of Champlain, like his fellow of Erie, has found an untimely grave. The march of time has removed from earthly scenes most of our revolutionary civilians and warriors, and has already made fearful inroads upon the number of those who gallantly and gloriously conducted our arms to victory, in the more recent contest. ALABAMA. ry, 125 miles further, with 4900 inhabitants, exported 9000 bales; and from Cassawda, 25 miles above, at the junction of the Coosa and Talapoosa rivers, there were exported 1000 bales. On the Tombeckbee and Black Warrior rivers, also, there are several flourishing towns.-Tuscaloosa, recently fixed upon as the capital of the state, contains 3000 inhabitants, and exported 10,000 bales. Erie, 100 miles below with only 500 inhabitants, exported 8000 bales. Several other places further down, viz. Point Jackson, Coffeeville, St Stephens, &c. exported from 3000 to 4000 bales-Considerable quantities are sent to market by the planters, sufficient, probably, to make up the deficit. We do not pretend, however, to perfect accuracy either as to the number of inhabitants or the quantum of exports from the several towns mentioned, but believe the statement not to be essentially wrong.-Cinci. Gaz. From the Commercial Advertiser. ANCIENT RECORDS. A gentleman recently from Alabama, has furnished us with the following facts,relative to the topography & commerce of that State, which we think may be interesting to many of our patrons. The quantity of cotton raised in South Alabama, fast MR. EDITOR.-Under the head of year was 75,000 bales, one third "Ancient Records" in your last Admore than was grown the year bevertiser, you say 66 on the 15th fore. The climate and soil of that Dec. 1669, the sum of three pounds state are so well adapted to the was paid to Bartholomew Green for growth of cotton, that the farming printing several Laws of this provinterest devote their attention to lit- ince. This was probably executle else. The inhabitants depend ted in Boston, as there was no prinupon the northern states for their ting done in New Hampshire, presupplies of flour,pork, and whiskey-vious to the year 1756. An old Mobile is the deposit for mostly all Memorandum Book kept by a genthe products of the state; it contains tleman of this town, about that from 7 to 8000 inhabitants; 200 time, says "The first printing Press house were erected there last year. set up in New Hampshire was at -Above Mobile, on the banks of Portsmouth in August 1756-the Mobile river, there are a consider-Gazette was published the 7th Ocable number of flourishing towns.- tober, and Ames' Almanack the Fort Claiborn, 150 miles from Mo- November following." Previous bile, contains 1,500 inhabitants, to this time, all news, however trivand shipped of last years crop 3000 ial relating to this town appeared in bales. Prairie Bluff, 120 miles the Boston Papers, and many genfurther up, exported 3000 bales.-tlemen who were in the habit of The little town of Selima, 10 miles corresponding with the Boston Edfurther, containing 1000 inhabitants, itors continued it after the estabexported 10,000 bales. Montgome-lishment of the N. H. Gazette. For instance, the Boston Country Fartherless and Widows Society, a- We mention, with much pleasure, and record the fact, as worthy of all praise, that at a recent Lecture, in the Federal-street Church, on account of the Fragment Society, and in which the Rev. Mr. Ware, officiated, the sum of $312, and a State House at Portsmouth to a few of the militia who had been under arms near five hours and a number of boys. On this occssion guns at the fort were discharged-the report was heard by none but those at the Governor's. Our Governors' Proclamations and our pamphlets were also printed in Boston. In 1719 an English ship was cast away on Boon Island; the crew and passengers after unparalleled sufferings from cold and bunger, and losing many of their number, were taken off the rock by two of our citizens, who found them in a most wretched state- One of their number wrote a narrative ofthe shipwreck, and an account of their kind reception at Portsmouth This pamphlet was printed in Boston in 1720, and is now a great curiosity, and rarely to be found. BOSTON. CHARITABLE COLLECTIONS. At a lecture held at the central Universalist Society, Nov. 19th, Sermon by the Rev. David Pickering of Providence, there was $133 collected in aid of the Female Samaritan Society. The sum collected at the Park street Church on Sunday evening, Oct. 15, in aid of the funds of the "The breast which happiness bestows, "Reflected happiness shall bless," PROVIDENCE STAGES. For improvement has at length been ize none other. ENTERPRISE OF SALEM. We are glad to learn, that the enterprising citizens of Salem, have at length determined to erect a large manufactory at that place; and to place the business in more tive and efficient hands, have chosen a new board of directors, consisting of the most zealous supporters of the measure, viz. Hon. JOSEPH STORY, Benj. Hawks, ac John Russell, Larkin Thorndike, Henry Whipple, UNITED STATES REVENUE. We are glad to learn, in reply to some recent rumours, that the impost, of the present year, would fall short several millions; that instead of a deficiency, the full sum, estimated by the Treasury Department, would be realized; and the receipts amply sufficient for all the public expenditures, including the annual ap plication of ten milhons towards the || "Uninfluenced by Party, We aim only principal and interest of the public debt. The re-election of Mr. Clinton, to the chief magistracy of N.-York, is now rendered certain; but the majority of votes in his favor is small; and the successful candidate for Lt. Gov (Mr. Pitcher,)is of the opposition party, as well also as a mojority of the legislature. In this state of things, Mr. Clinton will have few to envy him. BOSTON NEWS-PAPERS. (Continued from page 136.) There were several papers commenced in this town, during the war of the revolution; but they were not distinguished for much talent, or public spirit, and, of course, were soon discontinued, for want of patronage, The "Public Ledger," instituted by Messrs. *Draper & Folsom, in 1776, or 7, and first published in the building now occupied by Dr. Elliot, at the corner of Washington and Winter-streets, survived the revolution, a few years, and then fell also, while in the hands of Mr. Folsom, alone, from mere imbecility. "COLUMBIAN CENTINEL." This paper, the oldest surviving print of our city, established since the revolutionary war, was commenced on the 24th of March 1784, and first published in a small quarto form, at No. 9, Marlborough-street, by Warden & Russell. It was issued twice a week, on the same days, it now is, (Wednesday and Saturday.) The title then stood, "The Massachusetts Centinel; and the Republican Journal." Motto * Mr. Draper is now living, and a resident of this city, enjoying, a good portion of health, for an aged man; and what is still a further blessing, he enjoys the filial and affectionate care of his surviving children. to be Just."-Price 12s. a year, and two Pence, single. In the centre was a graphic figure, holding a tablet, or book, in one hand, and a pen, or pencil, in the other; with the scales of justice suspended from the frame, on which the figure is sitting, in a contemplative posture. On On the 16th Oct. same year, the office was removed to the building, situated at the corner of Devonshire and State-streets, when the title of the paper was so far altered, as to lose the figure with the scales,— its motto and the second denomination, leaving the single title of "Massachusetts Centinel," supported by two small figurative cuts on the the extream right and left, emblematical of Liberty and Commerce. the 26th June, 1785, the former motto was restored.-During this month, the publishers obtained much notoriety, and the accession of a great many new friends, as well as subscribers to their paper, from the circumstance of some illiberal attacks being made on the freedom of their press; and more particularly so, from an act of violence being committed on the person of the senior partner, then in a feeble state of health.* This partiality in their fa *The leading cause of this attempt to muzzle the press, seems to have arisen from the novel institution of a Society, called the "Sans Souci," which were to have their stated meetings at ConcertHall, and each other's houses,-to admit persons of both sexes, young and old, and to allow card-playing, even on the Sabbath, as well is tea and punch drinking, &c. These assemblies being considered as having an immoral tendency, the society was attacked by some writers in the Centinel, and a Farce written and advertised in the paper for publication, bearing the imposing and startling title of "Sans Souci; alias, Free and Easy; or an Evening's Peep into a Polite Circle." On this public notice, one of the members repaired to the office, and from the lower entry, demanded to speak with one of the printers,-Mr. Warden, the senior editor,being near the door, and first hearing the call, descended,and was immedia |