of New York, for the purpose of forming a great national society to be called the American Lyceum, Accordingly the notices issued and the learned men of the country convened at New York. On the whole the meeting was highly respectable both in point of number, and the talent and reputation of the delegates. By those who knew nothing of the private history of its formation, it was naturally expected that the issue of their deliberations would mark a new era in the history of education in this country. The important bearing and benefit that in times past had been felt throughout the world, from

very naturally thought the method of instruction in every wise concern, to convene upon an appointed common schools and other places. To a circular day in the course of the ensuing season at the city or publick explanation of his apparatus, he very soon appended a series of recommendations from school teachers and sundry editors of Boston, which were doubtless paid for in rattle-traps. After remaining in Boston with his laurels fresh upon him, as long as his education machines were marketable, he then started on a tour into the interiour. We soon hear of him in the country villages of New England, advocating with apparently ingenuous but astonishing enthusiasm, the establishment of town Lyceums. A very laudable undertaking one would think, and one which might imply in this case a generous sacrifice to science and education. Enlarging with peculiar emphasis the deliberations of other national societies, as the and zeal upon the immense benefits, immediate and Institute of Paris, and the Royal Society of London, remote, direct and consequential, that might happily furnished perhaps the grounds upon which the anresult to towns, counties, and states, from such or- ticipations of the people were naturally founded. In ganizations, he excited an interest in the good village view of the extreme benefits of such national sociepeople in favour of his projects, that demanded an ties, we wish it to be understood, an association of immediate establishment on any plan he might pro- professors and cadets at West Point had some years pose. In organizing the Lyceum, Mr. H. with a previously organized a society, that had the merit of very modest precaution, directed the proceedings having at least a plan and an object. We refer to with especial reference to the certain disposition of the American Associate Society. This society had his school apparatus. This apparatus, therefore, was taken incipient steps to form auxiliary associations made the most indispensable article in the constitu- throughout the country-indeed it had carried its tion of the society, and its purchase the first and most measures in this respect successfully forward, as it essential outlay. As Mr. H. progressed in his had found ready and efficient coadjutors in several philanthropick travels, the multiplication of town of the colleges, and many auxiliaries in several of lyceums afforded gratifying encouragement to his the states at the south and west, all of which had efforts; the corresponding sale of the school appa-opened a regular and mutual correspondence. They ratus was flattering to his own opinions of its excel- had made arrangements for a press establishment; for lence, and the profits resulting therefrom were publishing a monthly journal; for a course of lectures; abundantly pleasant and particularly convenient. for exploring missions; and for publishing the genAfter New England was pretty thoroughly Ly-eral statisticks of literature and education, and the ceumized and supplied with the education machine, institutions, &c. connected therewith, throughout the our adventurer approached New York in prospect United States. And why was not this excellent plan of a fine field and a rich harvest. At about this pe- persevered in? Because men love to plume themriod, a number of teachers and others had convened selves with the imagined honour of inventing a course at Utica, for the purpose of organizing an institution of their own, rather than adopt the plan of others, on a plan similar to the excellent Boston Institute of although infinitely superiour; and because the atteachers. Tidings of the fact reached the ears of tention of the country was absorbed in this great our hero, who proceeded thither immediately. No American Humbug, the American Lyceum, and had sooner was that assembly honoured with this man's transferred its support to this prodigious abortion of presence, than the school apparatus walked forth, the mighty intellects of the country. At its first and its talismanick power directly relieved the meeting a talented advocate of the American Associate members of the convention from all their contempla- Society, whose only crime was, that he was unforted labours, and the whole was instantly transmog-tunately a young man, presented himself before this rified into a State Lyceum. After deliberating, with august body, and in the hope that both societies a gravity excellently assumed, upon the highly im- might be merged into one, to the mutual gratification portant objects which Mr. H. presented to the asso- and benefit of both, and advantageously to the country, ciation in connexion with his labour-saving appara-modestly but perspicuously explained the history, tus, this stalwart knight of the rattle-traps, moved progress, and objects of the American Associate, that a mandate issue under the high authority of the and submitted his remarks to their candid and honest great Lyceum of the state of New York, to all teach-consideration. How was his excellent speech reers and men of learning in the U. S. whom it did in ceived? These foster-fathers of the rising genera

tion, permitted one of their own body, whose wretch- country. At any view we can take of its proceed

REVOLUTIONARY

BATTLES ILLUSTRATED. No. 1.

OPERATIONS ABOUT NEW YORK, AND ENGAGEMENT ON THE HEIGHTS, AUGUST, 1776.

The plan of military operations which the British | subjugate the Americans, was extensive and formi"ministry adopted early in 1776, as their last effort to dable. It was however more grand in theory than it

of the neighbouring provinces, and some regularregiments from Maryland, from Pennsylvania, and from New England, which had swelled his army to the number of twenty-seven thousand men; but a fourth of these troops was composed of invalids, and scarcely was another fourth furnished with arms.

The American army, such as it was, occupied the positions most suitable to cover the menaced points. The corps which had been stationed on Long Island, was commanded by Major-generalGreene, who, on account of sickness, was afterwards succeeded by General Sullivan. The main body of the army encamped on the island of New York, which, it appeared, was destined to receive the first blows of the English.

Two feeble detachments guarded Governour's Island, and the point of Paulus's Hook. The militia of the province, commanded by the American general Clinton, were posted upon the banks of the sound, where they occupied the two Chesters, East and West, and New Rochelle. For it was to be feared that the enemy, landing in force upon the north shore of the sound, might penetrate to Kingsbridge, and thus entirely lock up all the American troops in the island of New York.

Lord Howe made some overtures of peace upon terms of submission, to the royal clemency, which resulting in nothing, decided the British general to attack Long Island. Accordingly, (says Botta,) on the twenty-second of August, the fleet approached the Narrows; all the troops found an easy and secure landing place between the villages of Gravesend and New Utrecht, where they debarked without meeting any resistance on the part of the Americans.

proved to be in practice. Still it was evident, that they had made an extraordinary effort in hopes of terminating the war at a single blow. New York being the most advantageous position, they had selected it as the centre of their operations. General Howe took possession of Staten Island, on the second of July; and his brother Admiral Howe, with fresh forces from England joined him about the twelfth of the same month. General Clinton arrived there about the same time with the troops he reconducted from the unfortunate expedition of Charleston. *Commodore Hotham also appeared there with the reinforcements under his escort; so that in a short time the hostile army amounted to about twenty-four thousand men; English, Hessians, and Waldeckers. Several regiments of Hessian infantry were expected to arrive shortly, when the army would be swelled to the number of thirty-five thousand combatants, of the best troops of Europe, all abundantly supplied with arms and ammunition, and manifesting an extreme ardour for the service of their king. The plan was first to get possession of New York, which was deemed of most essential importance. Then if General Carleton, after having passed, as was hoped, the lakes of Canada, could penetrate to the banks of the Hudson, and descend this river at the same time that General Howe should ascend it, their junction would have the immediate effect of interrupting all communication between the provinces of New England, on the left bank, and those of the middle and south upon the right. While General Howe was seconded in his invasion of New York by the :welve or thirteen thousand men coming from Canada under Governour Carleton, General Clinton was to operate in the provinces of the south, and to attack Charleston.. The American troops being thus divi- A great part of their army, under the command of ded, and their generals surprised, and pressed on so General Putnam, encamped at Brooklyn, in a part of many sides at once, it was not doubted but that the the island itself which forms a sort of peninsular. British arms would soon obtain a complete triumph. He had strongly fortified the entrance of it with But in executing this design they had counted too moats and intrenchments; his left wing rested upon much on an admirable concurrence of a great number the Wallabout bay, and his right was covered by a of parts, and had not taken into account the difficulties marsh contiguous to Gowanus's Cove. Behind him of the winds and seasons. Admiral Howe did not he had Governour's Island, and the arm of the sca arrive, until after Clinton's expedition of Charleston which separates Long Island from the island of had totally miscarried. The army of Canada was New York, and which gave him a direct communientirely interrupted at the lakes. It was still, how-cation with the city, where the other part of the ever, confidently expected that General Howe would army was stationed under Washington himself. The be able alone to make a decisive campaign. commander-in-chief perceiving that battle was apTo resist this impending storm, Congress had or-proaching, continually exhorted his men to keep dained the construction of rafts, gun-boats, galleys their ranks, and summon all their courage: he reand floating batteries for the defence of the port of minded them that in their valour rested the only New York and the mouth of the Hudson. They had hope that remained to American liberty; that upon also decreed that thirteen thousand of the provincial their resistance depended the preservation or the militia should join the army of Washington, who, pillage of their property by barbarians; that they being seasonably apprized of the danger of New were about to combat in defence of their parents, York, had made a movement into that quarter; they their wives, and their children, from the outrages of also directed the organization of a corps of ten thou-a licentious soldiery; that the eyes of America were sand men, destined to serve as a reserve in the fixed upon her champions, and expected from their provinces of the centre. "All the weakest posts success on this day either safety or total destruction. had been carefully intrenched, and furnished with The English having effected their landing, marchartillery. A strong detachment occupied Long ed rapidly forward. The two armies were separated Island, to prevent the English from landing there, by a chain of hills, covered with woods, called the or to repulse them if they should effect a debarkation. heights, and which, running from west to east, But the army of Congress was very far from having divide the island into two parts. They are only all the necessary means to support the burden of practicable upon three points; one of which is near so terrible a war. It wanted arms, and it was wasted the Narrows, the road leading to that of the centre by diseases. The reiterated instances of the com- passes the village of Flatbush, and the third is apmander-in-chief had drawn into his camp the militia proached, far to the right, by the route of another

village called Flatland. Upon the summit of the General Clinton learning from his prisoners that hills is found a road which follows the length of the the road of Jamaica was not guarded, hastened to range, and leads from Bedford to Jamaica, which is avail himself of the circumstance, and occupied it intersected by the two roads last described: these by a rapid movement. Without loss of time, he imways are all interrupted by precipices, and by ex-mediately bore to his left towards Bedford, and cessively difficult and narrow defiles.

The American general wishing to arrest the enemy upon these heights, had carefully furnished them with troops, so that if all had done their duty, the English would not have been able to force the passages without extreme difficulty and danger. The posts were so frequent upon the road from Bedford to Jamaica, that it was easy to transmit, from one of these points to the other, the most prompt intelligence of what passed upon the three routes.

seized an important defile which the American generals had left unguarded. From this moment the success of the day was decided in favour of the English.

Hessians, on their part, had attacked the centre at break of day; and the Americans, commanded by General Sullivan in person, valiantly sustained their efforts. At the same time the English ships, after having made several movements, opened a very brisk cannonade against a battery established in the little island of Red Hook, upon the right flank of the Americans, who combated against General Grant.

Lord Percy came up with his corps; and the entire column descended by the village of Bedford from the heights into the plain which lay between the hills and the camp of the Americans. During this time General Grant, in order to amuse the enemy and divert his attention from the events which took Colonel Miles, with his battalion, was to guard place upon the route of Flatland, endeavoured to the road of Flatland, and to scour it continually with disquiet him upon his right; accordingly, as if he his scouts, as well as that of Jamaica, in order to intended to force the defile which led to it, he had reconnoitre the movements of the enemy. Mean- put himself in motion about midnight, and had attack-› while the British army pressed forward, its left winged the militia of New York and of Pennsylvania being to the north, and its right to the south; the who guarded it. They at first gave ground; but village of Falmouth was found in its centre. The General Parsons being arrived, and having occupied Hessians, commanded by General Heister, formed an eminence, he renewed the combat, and maintained the main body; the English, under Major-general his position till brigadier-general Lord Sterling Grant, the left; and other corps, conducted by Gene- came to his assistance with fifteen hundred men. ral Clinton, and the two lords, Percy and Cornwallis, The action, became extremely animated, and fortune composed the right. In this wing the British gene-favoured neither the one side nor the other. The rals had placed their principal hope of success; they directed it upon Flatland. Their plan was, that while the corps of General Grant, and the Hessians of General Heister, should disquiet the enemy upon the two first defiles, the left wing, taking a circuit, should march through Flatland, and endeavour to seize the point of intersection of this road with that of Jamaica; and then rapidly descending into the plain which extends to the foot of the heights, upon the other side, should fall upon the Americans in flank and rear. The English hoped, that as this post was the most distant from the centre of the army, the advanced guards would be found more feeble there, and perhaps more negligent: finally, they calculated that, in all events, the Americans would not be able to defend it against a force so superiour. This right wing of the English was the most numerous, and entirely composed of select troops. The evening of the twenty-sixth of August, General Clinton commanding the vanguard, which consisted in light infantry; Lord Percy the centre, where were found the grenadiers, the artillery, and the cavalry; and Cornwallis the rearguard, followed by the baggage, some regiments of infantry and of heavy artillery; all this part of the English army put itself in motion with admirable order and silence, and leaving Flatland, traversed the country called New-Lots. Colonel Miles, who this night performed his service with little exactness, did not perceive the approach of the enemy; so that two hours before day the English were already arrived within half a mile of the road of Jamaica, upon the heights. Then General Clinton halted, and prepared himself for the attack. He had met one of the enemy's patrols and made him prisoner.

General Sullivan, who commanded all the troops in advance of the camp of Brooklyn, had no advice of what passed in this quarter. He neglected to send out fresh scouts; perhaps he supposed the English would direct their principal efforts against his right wing, as being the nearest to them.

This also was a diversion, the object of which was to prevent them from attending to what passed in the centre and on the left. The Americans defended themselves, however, with extreme gallantry, ignorant that so much valour was exerted in vain, since victory was already in the hands of the enemy. General Clinton being descended into the plain, fell upon the left flank of the centre, which was engaged with the Hessians. He had previously detached a strong corps in order to intercept the Americans.

As soon as the appearance of the English light infantry apprised them of their danger, they sounded the retreat, and retired in good order towards their camp, bringing off their artillery. But they soon fell in with the party of royal troops which had occupied the ground on their rear, and who now charged them with fury; they were compelled to throw themselves into the neighbouring woods, where they met again with the Hessians, who repulsed them upon the English and thus the Americans were driven several times by the one against the other with great loss.

They continued for some time in this desperate situation, till at length several regiments, animated by a heroick valour, opened their way through the midst of the enemy, and gained the camp of General Putnam; others escaped through the woods. The inequality of the ground, the great number of positions which it offered, and the disorder which prevailed throughout the line, were the cause that for several hours divers partial combats were maintained, in which many of the Americans fell.

She did not return to the asylum. Her insanity continued, but it was of the least painful kind. It exhibited itself in extreme sprightliness and wit in conversation. To strangers who had not known her disposition to have been the reverse of gayety, the observation that her spirits were too buoyant for a lady of her age, would suggest itself. With the hope that country air and scenery might be beneficial to her, her husband some years after removed to the state of Vermont with his family. They had resided there about a year when the house took fire and burned down. The terrible affright occasioned by the disaster it was soon found had completely restored her to her right mind! The case is remarkable, in the fact that a cure was effected by the same means which produced the disease, and that too after some six or seven years' alienation of mind. The lady is now a resident of this city, and in per

Their left wing and centre being discomfited, the English, desirous of a complete victory, made a rapid movement against the rear of the right wing, which, in ignorance of the misfortune which had befallen the other corps, was engaged with General Grant. Finally, having received the intelligence, they retired. But encountering the English, who cut off their retreat, a part of the soldiers took shelter in the woods, others endeavoured to make their way through the marshes of Gowan's Cove; but here many were drowned in the waters, or perished in the mud; a very small number only escaped the hot pursuit of the victors, and reached the camp in safety. The total loss of the Americans, in this battle, was estimated at more than three thousand men in killed, wounded, and prisoners. Among the last were found General Sullivan, and Brigadier-generals Lord, Sterling and Woodhull. Almost the entire regiment of Maryland, consisting of young men of ❘fect health. the best families in that province, was cut to pieces. Six pieces of cannon fell into the power of the victors. The loss of the English was very inconsiderable; in killed, wounded, and prisoners, it did not amount to four hundred men.

[To be continued.]

For the Family Magazine.

A CASE OF INSANITY.

A lady of this city, in feeble health, some years ago fell from a carriage. She received very slight bodily injury, but the fright produced a sudden and total alienation of mind. She soon became so entirely unmanageable, that her friends were obliged to remove her to the lunatick asylum at Bloomingdale. In a few months, under the treatment of the institution, she had so far recovered from her malady, as to hold intelligent conversation on many subjects, and

her friends were allowed to visit her. On one occasion, when her husband visited her, while he was

COAL TRADE OF PENNSYLVANIA.

B.

The vast increase of this trade, within a few years, renders all authentick details relating to it a subject of general interest; and in the proof of this increase, it is only necessary to state, that in the year 1820, no more than 365 tons of anthracite coal found their way to the market from the Lehigh mines, while in 1834 the quantity sold amounted to 374,222 tons, of which 106,500 were from the Lehigh, 224,242 from the Schuylkill, and 43,700 from the Lacka-, wanna mines; the Schuylkill mines having been opened for the market for the first time in 1825, and the Lackawanna in 1829.

The Lehigh Company employ on the Lehigh; Canal and the Delaware 275 boats, and others are employed by individuals. On the Morris Canal, there are 250 boats employed in this trade. The number of vessels laden with coal at Philadelphia.. and Bristol in 1834, was 469. The amount of Lehigh coal shipped coastwise during the same year 32,154 tons, of which 14,006 tons were shipped from Newark.

consulting privately with the superintendent as to the manner in which he should leave without her know-was ledge, she left the room unnoticed, and had untied his horse standing in front of the house and seated herself in the wagon with the reins and whip in hand, when she was discovered by the people of the house. The horse was young and spirited, and she had never reined a horse before. The agonies of the terrified husband, when he saw her apply the lash to the furious animal, may not be easily imagined. She started off at full speed. The husband had called for a horse, and The value of improvements and property connected was already mounted in pursuit ; and although he fol- with and arising from the anthracite coal trade of lowed on at a rapid rate, he soon lost sight of her Pennsylvania in the three great coal fields, is estima amid the throng of carriages that crowded the road ted by a committee of the Legislature of that state as from Bloomingdale to New York. Breathless with follows, viz.: railroads and canals made by compaanxiety and fear he reached his home. He rushed nies and individuals, including part of the state into the house, and behold, there sat his wife in the canals, 489 miles, $9,750,937 42: colleries, boats, parlour, to his extreme surprise, chatting in high glee cars, &c. 1,270,280; capital invested in coal lands, with the family on the subject of her recent exploit. 4,900,000; mining capital, 480,000; value of towns "Ah," said she to her husband, "I saw you preparing in the coal fields, 3,375,000; making an aggregate to follow me, but I eclipsed them all." (It was about of $19,176,217 42 to which may be added the the time of the famous races of the Eclipse horse value of storehouses, wharves, landings, &c. in with Sir Henry.) She had driven through the gate-Philadelphia, New York, and other places, together way into the yard in rear of the house, and after with the value of vessels and capital employed in giving the horse in charge of a servant, presented shipping coal.

The number and description of vessels cleared from the river Schuylkill, laden with coal, during the year 1834, were as follows: 72 brigs, 1122. schooners, and 420 sloops. The amount of the tonnage of the boats employed in the transportation. of coal from the Lehigh mines, is 22,150 tons; on the Schuylkill, 24,733.

herself before her astonished family, to whom she The bituminous coal lands in Pennsylvania are was relating her adventure when her husband arrived. I supposed by the same committee to comprehend an