64 



THE FARMER'S MONTHLY VISITOR. 



developed, will it make a circle appear a square, or 

 « cone a tpliere— 1 lius far Mr. jF.fFERSON. 



Respecting- the observations of 111. s truly great 

 man and frielid of liuman rights, 1 would remark, 

 that such observations ought to be made With cau- 

 tion. If we irive our imagination an irif/i it is apt 

 to take an ell, and in phenomena so romantic as 

 those mentioned by Mr. Jefferson, it would seem, 

 in most cases, to require at least two or more sim- 

 ultaneous observers from the same station, to make 

 it certain that there is no j/lusion or rff lusiuu atten- 

 ding the observation, and that the nature of such 

 mountains, either temporary or permanent, or the 

 state of the atmosphere in which they are envelop- 

 ed, is really different from the same in other places 

 where no such appearances have been observed. 

 The White Jlountains, when, viewed from sea, 

 have frequently been mistaken for rloxds, and it is 

 possible that clouds near the horizon have some- 

 times been mistaken for distant mountains. 



Aamitting Mr. Jefferson's observations to be rig- 

 orously exact, I shall offer an explanation of the 

 cause of the appearances unde-r consideration, but 

 in doing which 1 shall not give so many reasons as 

 were proposed to be given in a law case I have 

 heard of. A lawyer told a judge on the bench, 

 that he had a dozen reasons to offer why a certain 

 person did not attend court: in the first place, said 

 he, the man is (lead. — Sujicif, said the judge; that 

 one reason is sufiicient, you need not give the oth- 

 ers. So in P/iiliisujjIiij, it is a principle not to give 

 any more reasons than what are necessary to ex- 

 plain th>: phenomena. 



Respecting the observations at Monticello, any 

 one who has looked througli akaleidoscope (an op- 

 tical iiistrumunt made with three glass sides, and 

 partly filled with small pieces of glass) turning it 

 over repeatedly, will have an idea of the cause 

 of the various changes in the appearance of 

 the mountain observed by Mr. Jetterson, for as 

 the fragments of glass sliding over one another in 

 the kaleidosciipe cause the different forms and col- 

 ors, so a similar displacement of the different 

 strata of the air and vopors surrounding and 

 rcslin" on the mountain, cause the " wliimsi- 

 cal shapes" spoken of If it be asked what causes 

 particles of air to change places, the answer is, 

 heat and cold, in the same manner as the particles 

 of water change places in a kettle huug over the 

 fire, where the hottest continually rises, and the 

 coldest sinks, especially before the water boils. 

 Reflected rays of light cause objects to appear out 

 of their real places, in any direction : refraction el- 

 ecatcs Ihero, and more at some times and places 

 than others, but it is hardly proper to say refrac- 

 tion depresses an object, though Mr. Jefferson says 

 it does. 



The observation at Concord, respecting Gilford 

 mountains, was not encumbered with ichimsical 

 circumstances, but was a happy detection of Na- 

 ture displaying her powers in a plain and natural 

 waif. It presents a problem in optics which re- 

 quires no rule nor reason for its solution than what 

 depends on refraction, which is sometimes greater 

 and sometimes less than its medium state. It is 

 caused l)y the rays of light passing through a dense 

 stratum of thi- atmosphere, which may be demon- 

 strated by the familiar experiment of placing a cent 

 or other mark in an empty bowl or basin, and mov- 

 ing backwards until the mark disappears behind 

 the rim. Tiien let a person pour in water, and the 

 mark will rist- into view,like the mountain in the 

 humid atmosphere. DUDLEY LEAVITT. 



Meredith, April 17, 1840. 



Foreign Wars. 



From the London Marklane Express of March 

 16, we extract the following interesting intelli- 



fence received over-land from Bombay, down to 

 an. 3), I84U. 

 CHia A. —Declaration of liar.— On Wednes- 

 day intelligence reached London (which was pub- 

 lished exclusively in a second edition of Tlic Times) 

 that the Governor-General of India has, inthe 

 name of the British Government, declared war a- 

 gainst China. This news is contained in dispatch- 

 es from Bombav, dated January 31, and was 

 brought to Marseilles on the 7th instant, by the 

 Volcano, Captain Volgcr. It is furtlier stated that 

 the most extensive preparations were making in 

 the Indian harbours. His Lordship had advertised 

 for 40,000 tons of shipping for the transport of 

 troops to China, 14,000 of which were to be suppli- 

 ed by Calcutta, and llie rest by Madras and Brjm- 

 bay. The expedition was to rendezvous at, and 

 sail from, Calcutta. Seven regiments quartered in 

 this last Presidency had been ordered to prepare for 

 embarkation, and the whole expedition was to con- 

 sist of 16,000 men. Its destination was not known, 

 but it was deemed probable that it would be direct- 



ed against Canton, or some other point on the coast, 

 of which forcible jiossession would be kept until 

 the Chinese Government should be brought tu 

 reason. The last accounts from Canton are dated 

 December 8. The Emperor had addressed to Gov- 

 ernor Lin a decree prohibiting the importation of all 

 British goods, and the trade witii Cliina was conse- 

 quently at an end. Tlie Americans continued to 

 pursue theirtradc unmolested, and their ships were 

 arriving and departing as usual, 'j'lie intelligence 

 received in Bombay Irom our Indian po.-scssions 

 was of a satisfactory nature. Our army had stop- 

 ped in its triumphant march through Cabul, on 

 hearing of the advance of the Russians against 

 Chiva, and remained in quiet possession of Ghuz- 

 ni, Kclet, and our other conquests in Affghanistan. 

 Tiio new king of Lahore evinced the most friendly 

 disposition towards the British. Lord Keane, hav- 

 ing been obliged by illness to resign the command 

 of our forces in Cabul, had returned to Bombay. 

 On his passage through Lahore he was too ill to 

 pay his obeisance to the King; and liis .Majesty, on 

 hearing of his situation, waited upon liini, sat a 

 long time by his bed-side, conversing witli him in 

 theniost friendly manner, and treating him during 

 his stay in his capital with the utmost distinction. 

 Th? Bombay papers say, " The Chop declaring 

 trade with Britain stopped forever, and which ap- 

 peared in the Register of last week, is meant to be 

 acted on, and stringent measures are already in 

 force. 1st. Cotton in bales (raw; and a variety of 

 Straits, Indian, and British staples ore now as 

 illegal to importas opium. 2ad. All the remaining 

 Parsees, Moormee, and any one who claim British 

 protection, are to be thrust out of Canton this day. 

 3d. The licensed passage-boats are entirely inter- 

 dicted from entering Canton river. 4th. 'I'he pro- 

 hibition of imports extends to Macao, and three 

 mandarins of rank are on their way tu enforce it. 

 5th. A coadjutor to the Yumchai (n Tartar) has ar- 

 rived." The Chinese are making vigorous prepa- 

 rations for contest. The last accounts from Macao 

 state the Governor of Macao, at the head of a body 

 of troops, inspected the forts, and ordered a doub- 

 le supply of ammunition to be senttoeach- Num- 

 bers of Chinese troops have landed in Macao. 

 Remarks. 

 ]t would not indeed be surprising to witness the 

 simultaneous breaking out of war (like that of tiie 

 cholera in 1832) among the great nations of the 

 world. A declaration of war by England against 

 the Celestial Empire is a new event under the sun; 

 and from the mutual jealousy of Russia and Great 

 Britain each towards the other on account of the 

 enormous strides of conquest in |he *' far East" 

 taken by both, it would not be surprising if war 

 in earnest shall commence. The Chinese empire, 

 wh:ch tor many jears has avoided foreign inter- 

 course, has been brought from motives of interest 

 to untierstand what foreign trade is ; she under- 

 stands something about American intercourse — . 

 she knows what Great Britain and Russia are a- 

 bout to the West and North ;' and she has states- 

 men who know how to take advantage of the re- 

 lations and causes of contention betwcca distant 

 powerful nations. 



How astonishing would it be, if reprisals upon 

 the American llag in the Chinese seas should be 

 simultaneous with invasion and war by the British 

 along our Northern frontier ! Deep as is the inter- 

 est of b .th nations to preserve peace, there have 

 been cases in former times where dissimulation 

 had planned hostile measures for execution at dis- 

 tant p'Mutslong before any cloud of war appeared 

 above the horizon. We, however, c.iniiul believe 

 that tlie present admiaistra.ion of r.ngland,at whose 

 head stands a more liberal Queen than any civili- 

 zed monarchy ever knew, should entertain towards 

 this country any otiier desire than thir preservation 

 of tliose amiable relations so important to the wel- 

 fare of both nations. 



Fdf llie I'juiiier's AlMnllily VK^imr. 



Rocktveed as food for Hogs. 



1 lately observed a pile of rockweed lying in a 

 shed near where were kept three thrifty looking 

 pigs. On inquiring its use, I was told by the own- 

 9r that he used it to feed his hogs. His mode of 

 preparing their food is this : he takes about equal 

 quantities of rockweed and potatoes and boils them; 

 putting into the pot or boiler fiist a layer of pota- 

 toes and then a layer of rockweed until the vessel 

 is filled. By boiling the rockweed it is made len- 

 der, while at the same time it seasons the potatoes. 

 The hogs eat the mixture freely, and what perhaps 

 is the best test of its usefulness, thrive upon it. 



The same person informed me that the mother 

 of these pigs was kept upon rockweed alone the 

 whole of last winter. .She seemed fond of it, and 

 was kept in good order. Perhaps the idea of its 

 b<;ing tiBcd in this way, is not as new to you as it 



is to me ; and that you can furnish some sugges- 

 tions respecting the best mode of using it, and of 

 its effects. If the article is really as good for food 

 as my informant seemed to think, many farmers 

 upon the seaboard might turn swine breeders with 

 advantage. 



Calais, Maine, Jan. 20, 1840. 



Speed the Improvements of Agriculture I 



A farmer who had. perused our Monthly Visitor 

 from its commencement meeting the Editor in the 

 street the other day, said if he had the power to 

 compel every working man in the State to sub- 

 scribe and pay for our paper for his own benefit a- 

 lone, he could not do each and all of them a better 

 service than do it for so trifling a tax as it would 

 impose upon them. Now although we are so much 

 ! opposed to all the invasion of the rights of others as 

 not to ask them to resort to compulsion for our es- 

 pecial advantage, we do ask the friends of .4gricul- 

 1 ture, all of whom who have read the Visitor must 

 I be our friends, to If nds us their aid to enlarge our 

 I acquaintance with the Farmers of New England. 

 I Without expense of postage the Post Masters in 

 ■every town will be willing at all times to send us 

 I the names of subscribers and remit the payment, 

 j Other gentlemen than Post Masters in the several 

 towns of tliis State would give us great aid by so- 

 : liciting and forwarding subscribers to commenco 

 with the January number of tlie present year : pay- 

 j ment might be made through the Representatives 

 ' of the several towns when the Legislature meets in 

 IJune. The back numbers will be found nearly or 

 quite as interesting for iheir new informatioa as 

 1 the current and succeeding numbers. 

 ! [n'Sets of the Visitor for the year 1840 may be 

 had at all times on application at the office of the 

 1 Visitor in Hill's Brick Block, Concord, N. H. 



Consumption. — Half a pint of new milk, nii.xed 

 with a wine-glass full of the expressed of green 

 horehound, taken every morning, is said to be an 

 effectual remedy for consumption if resorted to in 

 time. One who tried it says, "Four weeks use of 

 the horehound and milk relieved the pains of my 

 breast, enabled me to breathe deep, long, and free, 

 strengthened and harmonised my voice, and restor- 

 ed me to a better state of health than I had been 

 in for years." Our own experience enables us to 

 state that horehound is an excellent specific for a 

 cough or cold. — ^m. Farmer. 



THE MARIiETS. 



Tile Culilc iiiaiKel t.l At«! i urn u|» Ut itie in I a die i>t Apill 

 stiioft very niucli upon an average ol llie [ireviotis niontli. 



At Br(i,.-A(wii, llie sales ot bccl caltle were quick ullhoMt 



liiurh ailvancf : first qualil>' §7 per hnndied, anil inferii>r 



} (irailes down Id S'^ 50. VVortiiiit; oxen sold Iroiii $c^0 lo$l 10. 



! Cuwfl and calves ^iild quick finni ;>J5 lo 40. ijwiiie — sows 



at lelall 4^ to ^l. IJarruws5\ to O4. 



JVew r"rk,..iiinl 14. Genesee Flour is 'ip to S'i per bbl. 



and tlie supply of ilnur ct all sorts is very tight. A cargo of 



I wheat for e\i'i..rlaiion pnld at '. t;i cents per bnslo^l. Itvo 



I ifiMir and Cor eal dull : r>e 57, cern :ii>. oala 33 cla. bush. 



I "'I'hejeis," s.tys the Jciiinal of t;(iriiiiieice, ••no new lea- 

 I lure ill the nioney market. 'J'he hanks are glad of atl tl;e 

 I short business paper at II per cent, itllls on ICiigland 7^ tii 8 

 per cent, preiniiini (beloiv p.-\r ) 



*-'l'lie sales of Cuilon have Ktarled ahead" — prices from G 

 to 9 < eiits per ll>. 

 Tile best indications of ibr currency are tlie 

 DOMESTIC .■,XCHA^OE:S. 

 Philade'pliia ol a 



Haltiinorb 3 a 



Rlihniond OJ a dj, 



Charleston 34 a 4 . 



Favaiinah 1i a Pi 



,'\u5U9ta Jo a 11 



.Macon 11 a 12 



Mobile _'^ a i\ 



Sew Orlsans ~i a ^i 



jNashnlle ' H a IS 



Miss. tl. n. ."iO a 



.Arkniisas 40 a 



Bu'^ti^jty .Ipjil \S. Genesee Hour advanced lo $(i 25. Yel- 

 low corn (ju cts. per bushsl : .Northern "'ats 44 cts. 



Cotton, sales of low qualities at 8 and 9 cents. Lime 80 

 cenls perinsk. I'lasler $3 5U per ton. Salt, $3 per tibd. 

 1 77 per lia!!. 



Clovci seed. Northern por lli. 1 1 lo 18 : Foreifn 17 to 18. 

 Herds grass $U pet bushel, lied lop to. Hay 73 lo SO pec 

 Jiiiiiilie.l. 



TIIE EAUIilER'S MONTHLY VISITOR, 



t MONTHLY NF.WSPAPER, IS PUBLISHKD BY 



JOHN M. HILL, Hilfs lirick Block, 



Concord, .'V. //. 



JAMES BURNS, 3, Water st., Boston, Ms. 



The Visitor will be issued on the last day of each 



month. ' 



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