Carlisle Patriot, 03 Sep 1825 - Local News (4)

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Saturday 03 Sep 1825   (p. 2, col. 5-6 and p. 3, col. 1-2 + 5-6)     [continued]

 

Annan Academy.—On Tuesday last, August 30th, the Academy at Annan was examined by a Committee of Presbytery, consisting of the Rev. Mr. SLOAN of Dornock, and the Rev. Mr. MONILAWS of Annan—in presence of Gen. DIROM, Provost NICHOLSON, and a great number of highly respectable persons of both sexes. Too much praise can scarcely be bestowed on both masters and scholars in this seminary for the very excellent manner in which they acquitted themselves. Not more than three months have elapsed since Mr. MAXWELL, and his colleagues, Messrs. DICKSON and WATSON, were appointed to their situations, and yet their pupils manifested a proficiency in various branches of education which could only have been acquired by the greatest diligence, and which proves their teachers to be exceedingly worthy of the support and patronage of the public, and that Annan Academy will soon regain its former celebrity. The latin classes, under the charge of Mr. MAXWELL, the Rector, translated passages from several authors with great fluency, and answered a number of questions put by Mr. SLOAN and Mr. MONILAWS with a readiness which shewed them to be equally well acquainted with the grammatical construction and idiom of the language. The first prize in the second class was awarded to Robert FAULDS; the third prize in the third class to William DICKSON, and the second to John LITTLE; and the first prize in the fourth class to Philip NEILSON. The classes in geography and arithmetic, taught by Mr. DICKSON, made an appearance equally creditable to themselves and to their teacher. The prize in the class of arithmetic was given to John IRVING. Mr. WATSON's English classes read and recited several passages from the best authors with the greatest accuracy. The first prize was given to Margaret BAXTER; the second to Janet LITTLE, and the third to Robert BATTIE. It may be remarked, by the way, that the prizes were given at the expense of the teachers. When the examination was concluded, Mr. MONILAWS, as moderator, in an impressive speech, complimented both masters and scholars on the very satisfactory appearance they had made that day. He was very happy that he had so good grounds to return a favourable report to the Presbytery of the proficiency of his young friends in the different branches they were studying, and he was confident that, in saying so he also expressed the sentiments his Rev. Brother. The Rev. Gent. then spoke at some length on the advantages of education, and pointed out to the young persons before him the manner in which they ought to avail themselves of the excellent opportunities they possessed. He particularized several of the duties required at their hands, and especially recommended piety towards God, the beautiful Author of every good and perfect gift. Mr. SLOAN began a very appropriate address by stating that, during the twenty years he had been in the almost constant habit of assisting at the examinations of this seminary, he had not been more highly gratified than he was that day. He was sure it must afford great satisfaction to Mr. MAXWELL and his colleagues to behold their pupils making so rapid progress in so short a time as they had been under their tuition. To the advanced classes he could not address himself with greater propriety than in the language of the celebrated Roman orator: Hæc studia adolescentium alunt, senectutem oblectant, secundas res ornant, adversis perfugium ac solatium præbent; delectant domi, non impediunt foris, pernoctant nobiscum, peregrinantur, rusticantur: and the best advice he could give them was to persevere, and the reward should be theirs. To the younger students he could not address himself better than by explaining to them some of those duties which had been insisted upon by the preceding speaker. He admonished them to be diligent and attentive to their studies, respectful and obedient to their teachers, dutiful to their parents, and never to forget that tribute of devotion they owed to their God. He enforced his admonitions by reminding them that they were the persons who were to fill those places in society which his Rev. Brother, those whom they now saw around them, and himself, now occupied, when their dust should be mingled with that of their fathers; and the only way they could do this with credit to themselves, honour to their parents, their teachers, and their country, and usefulness to society, was by storing their minds with useful knowledge, and living in the habitual discharge of their respective duties. He concluded by hoping that the Divine blessing would rest upon them, on their labours in this place, and on every exertion they might now or afterwards make in doing good to themselves and to others.—The Rev. Gentleman then announced that the school would be vacant till the 26th of September, and dismissed the meeting, as it had been opened, by prayer.

 

The Jessie.—An opinion we find very generally prevails that the accident by which the vessel was destroyed could not have been occasioned by fire falling from a pipe amongst oakum; from the height which it attained in a few seconds it appears evident that it must have originated from a great body of fire at first—such as the ignition of a quantity of spirits, &c.—there is no probability however that its origin will ever be satisfactorily known. A considerable part of her cargo we have been informed was insured. The loss however will be considerable, besides the detention of the two new vessels in America.—The Lively, COWAN (Dumfries trader) left Whitehaven harbour on Wednesday morning, in expectation of raising the chain cable, anchors, &c. belonging to the Jessie, but retuned in the evening without having obtained any thing of value. They succeeded in hooking one of the chain cables, but being too heavy the tackle employed gave way.—Cum. Pac.

 

The account of the loss of the brig Jessie, which we have copied from a Whitehaven paper, is incorrect in a few particulars. The cargo, though valuable, is greatly exaggerated, and in place of from ten to thirty, should have been set down as worth from four to six thousand pounds. Instead of 60 puncheons, the Jessie contained only 14 pipes of wine, a few hogsheads of rum, and 12 pieces of gin and brandy. The passenger who is said to have lost 200 guineas in gold, was not so rich by £188. When in Dumfries, the individual in question wished to obtain sovereigns for seven one-pound notes, and when reminded of the danger of taking money to sea, he very readily accepted a draft, but at the same time concealed the fact that he had other 15 notes about him. These he deposited in a chest which was stowed in the hold and burnt with the wreck, while the cheque or draft was snug in his pocket, and stood him in good stead on his return to Dumfries. The Jessie was for many years a most prosperous vessel, and had crossed the Atlantic more than 40 times. A number of water-casks were piled on deck, and had these been stove and emptied of their contents, the fire might either have been subdued, or its progress so much retarded, as to have afforded an opportunity of saving a number of valuable articles. But in place of displaying common feeling or common courage, part of the crew endangered the lives of the rest by sneaking away in the first instance and carrying with them the only oars that happened to be on board, as well as the only boat that could be launched without the utmost difficulty and danger. In this way the wreck was most complete. From end to end the timbers were burnt to low water mark; out of 84 waggon loads of coals not a fragment was seen of the size of a cinder, and when the vessel went down, not an article floated. Strange as it may appear, her figure head was the only part of her that was left untouched, and though the sails and cordage were blazing above and around, her name and designation could be read to the last. In addition to her general cargo, the Jessie contained complete materials for rigging and fitting out two large vessels which the Messrs. THOMPSON are building in America; and at one time it was feared that the accident in question would delay the sailing of these vessels, and thereby occasion a second and very serious loss. But such have been the spontaneous zeal and kindness of their friends, that they are making unusual exertions to get other materials ready, and before the lapse of three weeks, the whole of these will be finished, shipped and on their way to America.—Dumfries Courier.