MISCELLANEOUS. and damaged to the amount of about five thousand dollars. The shock was so heavy as to prostrate several persons in the vicinity." A late Jamaica paper says, "the yellow fever is still raging here with great mortality." A paper printed at Cologne, in Germany, in August last, says, "in two hundred and four days which have clapsed of the present year, 1841, there have been ninety-two days of rain." And now to return from our digression. The past month, taken in the aggregate, may be recorded as having been very mild and pleasant in this latitude at least. The first six days were nearly as warm as mid-summer. At mid-day, the mercury ranged from 80 to 87; after which the wind changed from west to cast, and the atmosphere became a little cooler, but not uncomfortably so; as the mercury did not sink below 70 at mid day, only in two instances, (on the 17th and 30th) during the whole month, although the wind continued in the eastern board for twenty days in succession. There was a thunder shower, with vivid lightning on the 2d, and some rain also fell on the 4th, 13th, 17th, 23d, 24th, 25th, 28th and 29th. The quantity which fell during the month, was about two inches. That which fell during the corresponding month of last year, was two and a half inches. The average temperature of the whole month just closed, was 67-viz: at sunrise, 62; at two o'clock 75; and at 10 P. M. 65. That of the corresponding month of last year, was 69. In New England, there are forty thousand females (according to the late census) employed in factories and manufactories of various kinds; and the portion of them in Massachusetts alone, it is computed, annually earn four millions C. P. U. S. Gaz. of dollars. Philadelphia, Oct. 1, 1841. Review of the Weather, etc., for October, 1841. In looking back upon our record of the weather for several years, we find no month of October in which the average of the cold was so low by four degrees as the one just closedthe average of the whole month being 50, viz: at sunrise, 44; 2 o'clock, 58; and at 10 P. M. 48. age of October, 1840, was 54, and that of 1839, was 56.Whereas, the averThe other months of October, from 1830 to 1839, were from 54 to 56. The quantity of rain which fell during the month, was very small, being only 34 inches. That which fell during the corresponding month of last year, was within a fraction of six inches. At sunrise on the 26th, the mercury was down to 28, which is four degrees below the freezing point, and ice was from an eighth to a quarter of an inch thick. On the mornings of the 5th, 6th, 7th, 14th 15th, 16th, 17th, 18th, 19th, 22d, 23d, 24th, 25th, 26th and 27th, there was slight frost in the vicinity of the city. N. and N. W. winds prevailed a greater part of the month, and there was but very little falling weather. It was windy and cloudy, cold and uncomfortable, for many days in succession. Indeed, it was more like a November than an October month, until the 27th, when the wind southed, and the atmosphere became mild and soft, and so continued until the month closed. On the 3d of the month, there was a violent N. E. rain storm here; but farther N. and E., and upon the Ocean, the storm was terrible and very disastrous, doing a vast amount of damage to shipping, &c. kept a record of the number of vessels which came to his A person at Salem, (Mass.) knowledge, that were either lost or experienced damage in the storm, and they amounted to one hundred and ninety; and it has been estimated that property in vessels, goods, &c. was destroyed to the amount of two millions of dollars. The newspapers published immediately after the storm, stated that in Brunswick, (N. J.) the "storm was furious and the cold intense; the rain fell in torrents, mingled with hail and snow." In the city of New York, the rain poured and the wind blew a gale all day and night, carrying awnings and branches of trees before it like feathers, and doing considerable damage to shipping, &c. It was very similar 301 From in New Haven, and farther north and east, where it also snowed and hailed, and the wind blew a gale. The Green Hampshire, and the Catskill and Highlands in New York, Mountains of Vermont, and the White Hills of New is very uncommon, indeed, so early in the season. were all covered with snow on the morning of the 4th, which thirty to forty vessels, principally fishing schooners, owned in Gloucester and Marblehead, were entirely lost, with a ed, was the schooner Forest, with all her crew, by which part of their crews. Among the vessels particularly mentionthirty-one children are left fatherless. There were also between forty and fifty vessels lost on Cape Cod, and fifty dead bodies drifted on shore. The crews of those vessels must have numbered as many as three hundred persons at least. The Boston Patriot of the 8th, says: "Reports of disasters at sea, by the storm and gale of the 3d, still continue to reach us." A Quebec paper of October 4, says "that the Amanda, Captain Davis, from Limerick, (Ireland) with passengers, was lost on Metis Point, and forty-one perfrom Limerick, was lost near the same place, and one hunsons perished. It was only in May last that the Minstrel, dred and thirty-seven passengers, and eleven of the crew perished." Utica, (N. Y.) which destroyed much glass, and did other On the 8th of October, there was a severe hail storm at damage. The hail was as large as walnuts, and laid upon the ground in drifts the next morning. On the 24th, snow fell on the same day at Pittsburg, and in various other places fell in Geneva, (N. Y.) to the depth of four inches. It also both in the interior of Pennsylvania and in New York, from two to four inchos. snow at Montreal; but the newspaper does not say how On the 25th there was a heavy fall of heavy or how deep. In August last, a dreadful storm was experienced at Moscow, by which two hundred and fifty houses were unroofed, and much other damage sustained. Philadelphia, Nov. 1, 1841. C. P. U. S. Gaz. Pennsylvania Hospital, November 1st, 1841. SILK. 3.19 inches. specimens of silk, produced, spun and dyed, at the plantaWe have been favored by a friend with several beautiful tion of Mr. George McMichael, in Orangeburgh District.-Such a fine sample speaks favorably of the capacity of South Carolina to sustain the silk culture.― Char. Courier. Bank Dividends Mr. Editor-I have prepared the four following Tables, in which are contained the names of the 25 banks now in declaring dividends, and the rate and amount of dividends for each of the 10 years, from 1832 to 1841, or since they cent. per annum; the second, those whose rate has averaged 6 per cent.; the third, those whose rate has averaged in Boston. operation in Boston, and the years in which they were incorporated, together with the amount of capital at the time of have been incorporated. The first table includes those banks, whose rate of dividends have averaged less than 6 per more than 6 per cent.; and the fourth, a recapitulation. We commence above, the publication of a valuable article, furnished by a correspondent, on the Bank Dividends in Boston, for the last ten years. In the course of a few days or weeks, as we have room, we shall insert another portion of the article.-Boston Mercantile Journal. Debt of Texas. [Table II. will appear in next number.] The following is the present public debt of Texas, exclusive of the bonds, sold by the Loan Commissioners. Audited drafts funded... Promissory notes funded, previous to the 1st of July, 1840, in 10 per cent. fund.... .$795,351 Land scrip funded Eight per cent, bonds Promissory notes ... 781,379 80,348 849,900 2,944,988 Navy drafts...... 125,000 Interest on 10 per cent. funded debt to 188,685 71,394 $5,827,909 First Snow. tains west of this, we learn, the snow fell to the depth of four inches, and laid on the ground several days. We were visited with the the first fall of snow last season, on the 25th of October. Cotton Packing Extraordinary. Mr. J. Sims, Overseer for Gen. Wm. Irwin, of Henry county, Alabama, packed in one day, from sunrise to sunset, thirty-two square bales of cotton, averaging 478 pounds, with a common square threaded screw, with eight hands.Mr. Sims challenges the whole world, and part of Texas to beat it, and if they can "come it," he will then do his best. [Fort Gaines Whig. The UNITED STATES COMMERCIAL AND STATISTICAL REGISTER, is published every Wednesday, at No. 76 Dock street. The price to subscribers is Five Dollars per annum, payable on the 1st of January of each year. No subscription received for less than a year.Subscribers out of the principal cities to pay in advance. The Cumberland (Md.) Civilian of this morning says, we had the first fall of snow this season, on Sunday evening last 24th Oct. For several hours the appearance was as in mid-winter. On the next day, however, the snow soon disappeared before the genial rays of the sun. In the moun- Where, and at 76 Dock St., Subscriptions will be received. PRINTED BY WILLIAM F. GEDDES, COMMERCIAL AND STATISTICAL REGISTER. EDITED BY SAMUEL HAZARD. VOL. V. PHILADELPHIA, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 1841. No. 20. MESSAGE OF GOVERNOR MCDONALD OF GEORGIA. Fellow-Citizens of the Senate and of the House of Representatives : Deranged state of the currency. eighteen months was driven to the necessity of making curtailments which crippled the commerce of the Union. At the expiration of twenty-seven months it was brought to the verge of failure, and was forced to throw itself on the public treasury to rescue it from ruin. The officers of some of its branches had abused the confidence of the Government and stockholders, and abstracted its means upon securities doubly pledged, trusting to the success of wild speculations to ena ble them to meet their engagements. A change of adminis tration was effected, and a gentleman was placed at its head who, after bringing order out of chaos, resigned. Its destinies were then committed to a man who brought with him, it was supposed, every qualification of character and ability Of all the subjects entitled to your consideration during your present session, the still deranged state of the currency presents the most delicate and embarrassing. It is an evil that cannot be corrected in a day; and it is less in your pow-to insure its honest management, with profit to the proprie. er to remove existing difficulties, than to prevent their recurrence by wise and wholesome legislation. What is the proper remedy for the mischief, has been a question of absorbing interest to the whole nation. A great diversity of opinion exists in relation to it amongst our most distinguished and enlightened statesmen. Some regard a National Bank as the only means of relief. Its advocates allege that its notes when undepreciated, are of almost universal and uniform credit, it commands a confidence but little short of that of the people in the government. Experience, however, has proved that such an institution is not entitled to so large a share of the public faith, and that it is liable to the same casualties of other banks, with this additional and condemning disadvan-loans-that members of Congress, of commanding talents, tage, that when misfortunes befal it, the people are subjected to a double taxation; first in the depreciation of its notes, and secondly to duties and imposts for its relief. It cannot be expected that men of morals and capacity superior to those who are found to manage local institutions, are to be obtained to administer its affairs. Those who conduct it will be liable to the same influences; will extend credits in times of high prosperity; contract bad debts, misjudging the circumstances of applicants for its favor; afford facilities, and perhaps be concerned in associations for specuJation; call in its debts in times of general embarrassment, thereby adding to the distresses of the unfortunate, and giving opportunities to a favored few to purchase, on private account, property sold at ruinous sacrifices; lend its funds to political men, who, generally, of all others, are least apt to apply them to wise purposes, and are not always remarkable for punctuality; and embark its means in hazardous enterprises, regardless of the interests of the government and its other proprietors. This is not all; it will enter the field of political contest and assume the control of the government and its operations; and, bringing the press and public councils under its authority, it will acquire a power, ultimately, that the nation cannot resist, and to which the people must submit; all the while abstracting from their pockets the means of maintaining its unjust dominion over them. The late Bank of the United States. tors and benefit to the nation. It was so conducted as to propitiate general confidence, and it acquired a reputation and influence which was almost irresistible by those who deemed its establishment unwise and unwarranted by the Constitution. It had command of the public treasure, and was master of a credit which enabled it to control the monetary operations of the country. Its affairs were all the while secret, and continued so, until a ray of light was thrown upon them by the imperfect investigation of a committee of Congress. It was then discovered that its great prosperity was resting on a dubious foundation-that the most influen. tial presses in the country had been subsidized by heavy had been feed, as professional men, to represent its interest in the courts of judicature, and that to others accommodations to enormous amounts had been conceded. If there was nothing unusual in this, it gave rise to strong suspicions that its purpose was to wield its gigantic means, levied in part by taxes on the people, to perpetuate itself upon the country and to interfere with the policy of the Government. It furnished evidence also, that the representatives of the people were in danger of being subjected to its dominion, and the nation controlled by its power. From being a mere appendage to the Government it assumes to be greater than the Government itself. But its arrogance was arrested by the great man then at the head of the nation, who could neither be won by its smiles, nor terrified by its frowns. When it was found that the limit fixed for its existence by the act creating it, could not be transcended, it resorted to the expedient of invoking from a State a charter, by which it might escape the exposure of its condition, which must necessarily have taken place at the closing of its affairs, hoping, no doubt, under this shield to protect itself until, by obtaining a grant from Congress, it could be restored to its former privileges and powers. It succeeded in obtaining a charter, and with the same stockholders, save the Govern ment, and the same assets, a new organization took place, under a cognomen admirably adapted to secure the confi dence it acquired while it wielded the public funds. Every step it took, however, exposed its decrepid condition. Its fraudulent issue of the notes of the old Bank of the United States, and when thwarted in this, its hurried resort to foreign loans, and its engagement in cotton and other unjustifiable speculations, made it manifest that all its operations were the wild, indigested and misdirected efforts of desperation. That these objections are well founded, is fully established by the developments of the late Bank of the United States, which has just terminated a career of profligacy and corruption without a precedent in the history of the country. This institution was originally chartered by the Congress of the United States, and went into operation under the most favor- Finding as little favor with the present as with the former able auspices. With a substantial capital of twenty-eight administration of the General Government, and eing overmillions of dollars it commenced business, having the reve-whelmed with difficulties, it was forced to yield to circum. nue of the nation to sustain it, and in the short period of stances, and a state of things was divulged-which covered VOL. V.-39 |