AN AGRICULTURAL ANT) FAMILY NEWSPAPER 
MOORE’S RURAL NEW-YORKER 
a narrow arch of masonry. The other portion is 
surrounded by a wall, and was probably the dwell¬ 
ing of the vassals. We passed into the keep, and 
looked out of the crumbling windows upon the 
ocean. The kitchen was built next to the sea, and 
the waters wearing away the base of the rock 
whereon it stood, the outer wall fell down at a 
time when the cook and several servants were in 
the room, and they all fell over the cliff and were 
drowned. In one of the towers there is an apart¬ 
ment which is perfectly fresh and clean, as though 
carefully swept every day. Yet the guide told us 
it never was cleaned, at least, he added mysterious¬ 
ly, by mortal hands. 
There happened t.o come, at the same time with 
ourselves, an English party to the castle. They 
amused themselves by ill-natured remarks and at¬ 
tempted joking on the manner ami discourse of 
the guide, who was an Irishman. He was dis¬ 
pleased, and did not give them much information, 
and indeed they left sooner than oui-idvcs, und 
without seciug some of the most interesting parts 
of the ruin. After they had gone, with a subdued 
tone, he related to us the following legend: 
“Every family has a guardian spirit which we 
call the Banshee, and it watches over their interests 
and welfare. It occasionally makes its presence 
knowm to favored persons, and commonly has an 
abiding place in some part of the family mansion. 
Whenever a death or any occurrence of unusual 
importance is about to take place, it invariably 
gives warning, by inspiring dreams, oppearing in 
a vision, wailing at midnight, or other moans of 
which gpirits avail themselves in their communi¬ 
cations to men. This room is the Banshee's.— 
When the- family lived in the castle before it w r as 
ruined, it took possession, and has never quit, it— 
We never sweep or clean the room, yet you see 
there is uot a particle of dust or filth, as there is in 
the other apartments. We asked him if lie had 
ever seen it He said not, but heard it wail once 
in the midnight. It wailed for two or three nights 
before the death of Lady Antrim. However, an 
old lady whom he once knew had seen it when she 
was a little girl going to school. The Banshee was 
sitting on the outside of the tower over the preci¬ 
pice, where no human being could be supported. 
It was iu the form of a lady, and engaged in comb¬ 
ing its tresses. She gazed at it in astonishment, 
and then turned away to call her companions, hut 
when she looked again it had vanished.” 
The room is certainly kept very clean, and pro¬ 
bably without the agency of man. But the true 
worker of the wonder is the wind. The room is 
r Entered according to Act of Congress, in tho year lSSS, by D. 
n. T. Moons, in tho Clerk’s Office of the District Court for 
tho Northern District of New York.] 
For Moore’s Rural New-Yorker. 
HOME. 
BT ItEV. OLIVER CK-4-VH 
Dear home, there is a charm around 
Thine oft remem bored spot, 
Which from tuy earliest youth hath bound 
Me to thee, as to holy ground, 
And will not he forgot. 
I.ong years have oversped since first 
I left thine honored dome ; 
Yet naught that hath upon thee burst 
Hath from thy sacrcdness dispersed 
The loveliness of homo. 
How bitter when thy precincts dear 
First faded from my view, 
How hitter that unhidden tear 
Which told thee I was no more near 
The home my boyhood knew. 
The many bonrs T there had spent 
Rushed like a memoty-spcll; 
There no discordant jar had rent 
Our little band, and thus pre vent 
Affections rising swell. 
Bright did on den ranee fondly shed 
A halo o'er the past; 
And all the future overspread 
With promised blessings on my head. 
And bid them ever last. 
There came a change—ere morn of days 
Had merged in coming noon, 
The bier, tho pall, the gloomy bays 
Had whispered that our future ways 
Must separate, how soon 1 
All are not here—one whom we loved 
Is taken to her home; 
While yet the blessing Beemed approved 
There came a message, and removed 
A sister to the tomb. 
Years may advance, and with them all 
That home's fond joyane* gave ; 
Friend after friend successive fell 
Reneath the sad funereal-pall, 
Which shrouds them for the grave. 
Yet till life's lamp shall cease to burn, 
And all in death repose, 
Oft shall my willing footsteps turn. 
And there, where 1 -was wont to leant 
Submission, lose my woes. 
And when life’s evening shall have come, 
And home on earth shall fade, 
A star, dispersing ail its gloom. 
Shall ope a new celestial home 
Where sorrows ne'er invade 
January, 1857. 
LETTER I.— IRELAND 
BY GLEZEN F. WILCOX. 
Parting from G-at Glasgow. 
In the morning we took a hasty survey of Dum¬ 
barton Castle and town, and then embarked on the 
Clyde and steamed down to Glasgow. I was as¬ 
tonished at the immense number of steamers, 
mostly iron, which we saw on the river and moored 
at the docks in the city. In number they far ex¬ 
ceeded the sail vessels. Glasgow is a line, well- 
built city, and in regard to population claims to be 
the second in Great Britain. 
Here G-parted from us, as onr tour in Scot¬ 
land was finished, and by the evening train ho re¬ 
turned to Edinburg, to pursue his medical studies. 
To me it was a most agreeable week’s travel, and 
we had enjoyed many a laugh together, while trav¬ 
eling the muddy roads in a rain storm, or toiling 
among the mountains, and together had admired 
some of the grandest and most beautiful scenery in 
Scotland. We had become intimate; the acquain¬ 
tance seemed like one of years, instead of days, 
and wheu ho slung his knapsack on his arm and 
bid us good bye, I was sorrowful as I thought that 
we might never cross each other’s path again. 
Crossing the Channel. 
Before dark E-and myself were traveling in 
the opposite direction, having embarked on a 
steamer for Port Bush in Ireland. Lipon inquiryat 
the office, we found the fare four times as mnch in 
the first as in the fore-cabin. We bought tickets 
for the latter, thinking it was hut a few hours’ trip, 
and that we might he sea-sick, and would probably 
wish to stay on deck most of the time. But they 
were dilatory in starting, and stopped so long and 
often at the towns along the Clyde, that it was after 
midnight when we got into the Channel. It was 
cold enough to he uncomfortable on deck, and we 
descended into tbe cabin to get a little rest. This 
department was fitted up with plain board seats, 
which were occupied by about thirty Irish people, 
men and women. We soon gave up all idea of 
sleeping, and became interested in watching the 
operations of onr fellow passengers. There were 
halt a dozen young fellows who were inclined to 
make the heat of it, and to divert themselves made 
a great deal of noise, singing songs, laughing, 
joking, aud finally got up a “make believe” fight. 
However, it was acted with so much reality that 
many of the women, were frightened, two or three 
overturned, and a great deal of confusion created. 
Finally, one old man, of a nervous temperament, 
watching his opportunity, dodged up the ladder, 
and presently down came the captain, and gruffly 
demanded “what they were raising such a rumpus 
about on his ship?” It was all passed oif ns ft joke. 
When we got into the Channel, it was so rough 
that many of the passengers, and especially the 
became sea sick, and the scenes in the 
Previous to this event, and in the same year, Mr. 
C. had been again selected as Governor, and by 
repeated re-elections he was continued in that high 
office until 1705. In 1*01 Mr. C. wssprevailed upon 
to stand as a candidate for Governor, and was 
chosen (for the sixth time) by a decided majority. 
Mr. Cunton was elected Vice President in 1805, 
Thomas Jefferson being President, and re-elect¬ 
ed in 1800, James Madison filling the Presidential 
Chair. During the session of Congress in 1810-11, 
Mr. C. was called upon by his casting vote to de¬ 
cide the question of renewing the charter of the 
Bank of the United States. A motioB being made 
to strike out the first section of the bill of renewal, 
(a section vital to the interest of that institution,) 
and vote beiDg taken, it was found that tbere were 
the same number favorable and opposed to the 
measure. Mr. C. decided the question by voting 
in the affirmative, and defeated the application at 
that session of a re-charter. 
When Congress again assembled, George Clin¬ 
ton once more appeared in his accustomed seat— 
well-stricken in years, venerable in appearance, and 
universally respected for the official dignities and 
popular favor lie had enjoyed. Before that session 
terminated, his almost life-long service in a public 
| capacity, was ended. He died at Washington on 
There are few more honored names in American 
History than that of George Clinton, the First 
Governor of the State of New York. Although not 
the possessor of extraordinary genius or brilliant 
oratorical power, nor martial skill or ability, he was 
elevated amid his compeers for the sterling sense 
that characterized him as a. man, his firmness and 
independence as a statesman, and his incorrupti¬ 
ble patriotism, which was often tested, but never 
found wanting. One of bis biographers says of him: 
“The same relation that Washington sustained to 
the Union, he bore to New York,—the one was the 
Father of his Country and the other the Paler 
Pa trier of his native State.” 
The Cunton family is of English origin,—and 
their ancestor, William Clinton, from whom they 
trace their descent in a direct line, was one of the 
most devoted adherents of Charles I. He held a 
commission in the Royal army, and after that un¬ 
fortunate Monarch lost his life, he was compelled 
to fly to the Continent to escape the fury of Crom¬ 
well. William, after spending a long period in 
exile, returned to Scotland and married. His per¬ 
sonal safety being in constant jeopardy, he moved 
to the north of Ireland, where he died, leaving an 
orphan son (James) only two years of age. James 
reached manhood, married and settled at Longford, 
Ireland, where his smi Charles, (the father of the 
Charles, after 
For Moore's Knral New-Yorker. 
SABBATH NIGHT. 
hands. We pleased the man by listening attentive¬ 
ly to the story, and he told us confidently that he 
was a firm believer in it. 
Between the isolated rock and the main land 
there is a basin, which though nearly filled now 
with dirt and rubbish, yet the guide informed us 
was once much deeper, and contained seven or 
eight feet of water. It was then used as a harbor 
for their ships, aud the entrance was through a 
uatural arch, about eighty feet high, leading from 
the sea directly through the middle of the isolated 
rock. We descended by a winding and precipitous 
path into the basin, and entered the arch. The sea 
yet flows in beyond tho center, and the dashing of 
tne waves on cue tucks Keeps up a constant roar. 
The guide was very attentive to us when he found 
we dill not ridicule his superstitions notions, and 
pointed out some peculiar features in the arches, 
and a window in one of the walls, of which he re¬ 
marked in true Irish style, “That is the only per¬ 
fect frame in the castle, aud you will observe by 
the structure of it, that the glass they used in those 
davs was made of born.” 
How beautifully steal the evening shadows over 
earth, at the close of this the Holiest Day of all the 
Seven ! The cares, the duties, the perplexities of 
life have been laid aside for a little, aud the heart 
has grown Letter amid the sweet influences of the 
Sabbath. The soul has broken the cords that 
bound her to earth and soared away to breathe the 
air of heaven, and thus is strengthened for the 
temptations and conflicts of the coming week.— 
The sweet tones of the church bell have won us to 
the house of God, where man has plead for bles¬ 
sings with his Maker; where the songs of praise 
have burst from lips attuned to melody,—and, as 
the speaker has pointed us from earth to heaven, 
something more than his words of burning elo¬ 
quence have touched our heart, and moistened the 
eye,—we have felt that God was there, and that the 
place was holy. Thank God for the Sabbath, with 
its softening, subduing influence upon the earth- 
weary spirit. What would be life were it all one 
long week of toil and striving without the Sabbath 
to break the spell of worldliness ? 
But the evening comes slowly on. The crimson 
and the purple clouds that make the West so glo¬ 
rious at sunset, are mellowing their tints, while here 
and there in the vaulted sky, a star looks forth, and 
listens to earth's vesper hymn. As the twilight 
gathers over earth, so heavenly thoughts steal to 
the heart. The holy hush of the Sabbath stillness 
resting on the outer world lays its finger on the 
spirit too; aud as we think of the morrow's eare 
and duties, we almost wish that life were one Sab¬ 
bath of holy aspirations and worship without a set¬ 
ting sun or evening shadows. But not on earth can 
this be, yet by-und-by, when the last Sabbath prayer 
is offered, wheu our feet have pressed the threshold 
of the Sanctuary for the last time, then shall we be 
where prayer is turned to praise, aud the temple 
wherein we shall worship will be a city glorious 
| with dazzling gold and gems, and “the gates of it- 
shall not be shut at all by day; for there shall be 
I no night there.” By-and-by the last Sabbath on 
earth will come, and there will follow a morrow of 
( love, and joy, and peace in heaven. f. h. 
Grockport, N. Y.. 1857. 
subject of this sketch,) was bom 
attaining man’s estate, married, and, in the spring of 
1720, set sail for America. He purchased a farm in 
tho then wllfalktaa at the fool of tho Highlands, at 
that period a portion of Ulster Co., but which was 
subsequently annexed to the county of Orange.— 
Here,onthe26th day of July, 1739, George Clinton 
was born—he being the youngest of the five chil¬ 
dren which formed tho family. Beiug a youth of 
keen perception, and early displaying great shrewd¬ 
ness with a corresponding decision and foreo of 
character, he was destined by his father for the law. 
In the year 1755, soon after the commencement 
of the second contest with the French and their 
Indian allies, 
ped on board a privateer 
women, 
cabin worn bo disgusting, and the air so foul, that 
we were driven on iIc.k in oou. vve 
felt some rather disagreeable sensations, but by 
pacing the deck, and keeping our thoughts divert¬ 
ed as much as possible, from it, wo escaped the 
consummation of sea-sickness. We gazed into the 
darkness as the hours passed slowly by, and hailed 
tho first dawn of light with lively satisfaction. The 
boat was very slow, and there seemed to be no en¬ 
ergy in either officers or crew. Although the ad¬ 
vertised time for reaching Port Rush was sooner 
than daylight, yet it was eight o’clock on that mis¬ 
ty Sabbath morning before we ran along tho pre¬ 
cipitous Irish coast, and stopped a mile outside tho 
harbor, long enough to allow a few passengers to 
get into a small boat that came alongside. Tbe 
boat, danced about rather lively on the short rough 
sea, aud we were glad when it reached the shore. 
Going directly to an inn, we sat down with vora¬ 
cious appetites to a warm breakfast before a com¬ 
fortable peat fire. The sensations of comfort we 
experienced tire long to be remembered. 
Port Rush. 
We went to church, hut the formal service was 
too dull to overcome my drowsiness, and I fell into 
a dreamy sleep, from which I was awakened by 
the rising and departure of the congregation.— 
Afterwards we walked through the village, which 
is situated on the top of u bluff and commands an 
extensive prospect. The harbor is small, being 
entirely artificial. There wore but few vessels in 
it, but among them a brig from Baltimore. The 
scenery along the cnast is of a wild character, and 
there are several rocky islands in sight, around 
which the waves break with continual foam and 
roar. The village is straggling, ami the white¬ 
washed stone houses have a dazzling appearance 
when seen from a distance. The country around 
is not very fertile, aud taken altogether, the rough 
character of the people, and its situation, exposed 
to all the fury of the frequent Atlantic storms, it is 
not an inviting place to the pleasure seeker. But 
But within a few miles is one of the Wonders of 
Nature. 
Dunluce Castle. 
Monday morning wo started for the Giant's 
Causeway, which is six miles distant, aud leisurely 
followed a turnpike road which runs along the top 
of the clifib, stopping frequently to gaze at the sea, 
which roared and foamed below. A smooth, hard 
beach finally tempted us to scramble down, and 
laying off our knapsacks and clothing, we dashed 
into the surf. It was my first bath in the Atlantic. 
The rock is a limestone, the precipices are pierced 
with numerous caves, and we saw some isolated 
rocks which were worn into natural Gothic arches. 
An abundance of shell fish cling to the low rocks 
which the t ide overflowed, and several women were 
engaged in taking them off with knives, and eating 
them raw for their breakfast. We got into the road 
again, and in a little while the crumbling towers 
and battlements of Dunluce Cos tie rose before us. 
The ruin is the property of Lord Antrim, who 
keeps a man in constant attendance to show visit¬ 
ors about the place. It is in two parts; the keep, 
or stronghold, is situated on an isolated rock which 
rises from the sea perpendicularly two hundred 
feet It is couneeted with the main land only by 
MODE OF PUNISHMENT IN,RUSSIA. 
he left home clandestinely and sliip- 
which sailed from New 
Y'ork, duriug the voyage of which he encountered 
many hardships aud perils. On his return he ac¬ 
cepted a subaltern’s commission in his father’s 
regiment, and accompanied the expedition against 
Fort Frontenac, performing the duties of the sol¬ 
dier with honor. Hostilities terminating, he enter¬ 
ed the office of William Smith, the Chief Justice 
and Historian of the Colony, at that period one of 
the most eminent legal practitioners of New York. 
In due time he was admitted to the bar. and his 
success, both mentally and pecuniarily was very 
flattering. 
Tn October, 1705, young Clinton entered the 
Colonial Legislature, and made the first public 
declaration of his . Republican proclivities, and 
with his associate, Philip Schuyler, battled man¬ 
fully against the loyalist majority of the Assembly. 
Iu April, 1775. Mr. Clinton was elected one of the 
Delegates to the Second Continental Congress, 
from New York and took liis seat in May. Here 
lie advocated all his warlike measures, and the fol¬ 
lowing year voted for the Declaration of Indepen¬ 
dence. Internal strife and dissension, occasioned 
by the loyalists, having broken out at bis home, he 
hastened to assume the command of the militia of 
Ulster county—having been appointed a General 
of Brigade—and was not present at the signing of 
that memorable document 
In accordance with the recommendations of the 
Continental Congress, measures were taken in New 
York for the formation of a State Constitution.— 
In April, 1777, a Convention was held for that pur¬ 
pose. and on the 20th of the same month the task 
was completed. In the month of June following, 
Mr. Cunton was elected, both as Governor and 
Lieutenant-governor, with great unanimity.— he 
accepted the former office. 
During the year 1777, the National Congress, at 
the request of the State of New York, decided to 
select a commander of the military posts in that 
quarter. This appointment, with the rank of Brig¬ 
adier General in the Continental service, was con¬ 
ferred upon Governor C-, and all its duties were 
discharged faithfully and with promptitude. Tn 
Tn its place are the rod and the knout. Sentences 
to ’punishment hv the former often condemn to 
such a number of blows that the hide of an ele¬ 
phant could scarcely withstand them: human ua- 
ture must sink and expire under them. Whatman 
can endure four hundred blows of a stick? They 
would inevitably kill him, which is no part of the 
condemnation; and, as a proof that this is not de¬ 
sired. the sentence concludes by ordaining that, 
after the criminal has received his pnuishment, he 
shall he sent for life to Siberia. 
The officer in command of the troops ordered 
for the execution of tbe sentence is responsible for 
its being literally and completely carried out.— 
This responsibility he lays, in his turn, upon the 
shoulders of the regimental surgeon. The delin¬ 
quent—civilian or soldier, it matters nOt which— 
marches down the fatal slreet, of men. with a sol¬ 
dier In front and in rear, whose leveled bayonets 
prevent hta hanging back or nndnlv hurrying on. 
Upon his left walks the surgeon, holding the un¬ 
happy wretch’s hand in bis, aud aiLxionsly watch¬ 
ing the state of the pulse- When its diminished 
heat gives token of danger, the punishment, on a 
signal from tbe medical man, is immediately sus¬ 
pended, tho exhausted sufferer is placed on a cart, 
and taken to the hospital. The horrible, yet more 
•to inflict the 
I. SlOt*: 
NEW YORK STATE COAT OF ARMS. 
In this connection we present to the readers of 
the Rural the Coat of Arms of the State of New 
York, to be followed by that of each of the States 
in the Union. It was ordered by the Legislature 
of 1*09. It consists of a shield, on which is rep¬ 
resented the rising sun, with water and a range of 
hills in the foreground. The Ci^st is a half-globe 
on which is perched an eagle with pinions raised 
for flight. Supporting the shield on the right and 
left, are Justice and Liberty. In the background, 
across an expanse of water with its ships and 
steamers, a city is seen on one hand, and the country 
on the other. Below is our well chosen motto, de¬ 
noting that the course of the St.no should be just 
what it has been, is, anu shall be to the end of time— 
Excelsior !—“ Still Higher!" 
For Moore's Rural New-Yorker 
GATHER TO SPEND. 
In all his dealings with his chosen people God 
had regard, not to their interest alone, but was es¬ 
tablishing principles by which our lives are to be 
guided, if we would find favor in bis eyes. The 
Israelite in the wilderness was told to go forth and 
gather manna for his daily food, and there was no 
restriction as to the quantity he might bring home. 
Perhaps it was required of kirn to gather all he 
conlik But if kt> attempted to reserve to himself 
more than enough to last till the the next supply, 
that which he withheld from his hungry brother 
less successful in providing for the wants of the 
day, became corrupt. He bad refused to make it 
a blessing to another, and now it becomes a curse 
to himself. 
So is it now. Perhaps it is my duty to gather 
gold as God may give me opportunity, assuredly 
1 may do it without sin. But wo to tue, if, when 
Ho gives me opportunity, I fail to use it in reliev¬ 
ing tbe necessities of a brother less successful.— 
The surplus which should hare been devoted to 
j promoting the temporal and spiritual welfare of 
another, the treasure selfishly hoarded, becomes 
Sciss AO- 
humane practice of the Austrian: 
entire number of blows prescribed by the sentence, 
even though the latter portion of them fall upon a 
corpse—is iu Russia strictly prohibited. The pa¬ 
tient is taken cure of in the hospital until recov¬ 
ery, and then again beaten. If this process be often 
repeated, lie usually dies in consequence of his 
wound?; but in that case, "justice” has uot actual¬ 
ly killed him! Should he ultimately recover, he is 
sent to Siberia. It seems incredible, but is never¬ 
theless true, that many criminals have thus taken, 
by instalments, four or five thousand blows, and 
lived to drag out many years of melancholy exist¬ 
ence in Siberian deserts.— Sears' Russia Illustrated* 
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN IN HIS GIG, 
It is now about a eentury since Benjamin Frank¬ 
lin, Post Master General of the American Colonies, 
by appointment of the Crown, set out in his old 
gig to make an official inspection of the principal 
routes. It was about eighty years since he held 
the same office under tho authority of Congress, 
when a small folio, (now preserved in the depart¬ 
ment at Washington,) containing hut three quires of 
paper lasted as an account book for two years. These 
simple facts bring up before us,more forcibly than 
an elaborate description, the vast increase in Post 
Office facilities within a hundred years; for if a 
Post Master General were to undertake to pass 
overall the routes existing, it would require six 
veare' incessant railroad travel, at the rate of one 
hundred and twenty-five miles daily—while if he 
were to undertake the job in an "old gig,” he 
Infallible Recites. — Tho following are in fal¬ 
lible recipes: — For preserving the Complexion— 
Temperance. For whitening the Hands—Honesty. 
To remove Staius—Repentance. For improving 
the Sight—Observation. A beautiful Ring—The 
nome Circle. For improving tbe Voice—Civility. 
The best Companion to the toilet — A Wife. To 
keep away Moths—Good Society. 
destructive of my own, 
Every man magnifies the injuries he has re¬ 
ceived, and lessens those he has inflicted. 
