But, as we have already declared, we shall not be deterred from our purpose.

We have now before us "The Champions of Freedom," which, we are ashamed to say, is a domestic production. The author calls it a romance of the nineteenth century, and informs us, in his preface, that it will present "the most complete history of the late war that has yet appeared." We must confess that there was a good deal connected with that same war, which posterity will pronounce very like romance, when it is recorded by history. Lest "a continued series of warlike achievements" in a romance," however brilliant in their features, or important in their effect, might become to many readers, disagreeable and tiresome monotony," the author undertakes to mingle "the flowers of fancy with the wreaths of victory," and he has interwoven many private events with the thread of public history. As we always perused with lively emotions, the details of "the courage, enterprise, and success" of our arms in the late encounter, we object inost strenuously to any mixture of fact and fiction. The story of our fame may be recorded by truth without the aid of imagination. The numerous instances of individual good conduct, during the late war, are of too exalted a nature to be hawked about by ballad-mongers. If this writer had even mingled his inventions and his facts in such a manner that we could distinguish between them, we might not have quarrelled with him on this score, As it is, no one can draw the line, excepting when he gives a muster-roll of the officers and subalterns, after a battle, which he does, down to a third lieutenant, or a few pages now and then of a journal, kept with great minuteness, not by P. P. parish clerk, but by the renowned "George Washington Willoughby" the hero of this romance. For aught we know from this odd mixture, the families of Sandford and Palmer may be as really our brethren as those of Scott and Perry, and other respectable individuals, with whom they are associated in these pages. But from our general acquaintance with society, we must presume that Sandford and Sophia are creatures of the fancy of the author, because their prototypes cannot be found among us. We know not how the author will apologize for the introduction of such wretches, especially as he has invoked his readers with so much confidence,

"Show me a vicious thought, however brief,

A thought immoral, and I'll tear the leaf."

In portraying such characters, does he mean to exhibit "original specimens," as a modern philosopher would say, of American manners? Their ideal existence is a foul blot upon his book. Does he believe that even in the decrepit states of Europe, where vice is said to have attained a degree, not yet imagined in this country, he could have found a model for his college scene? A youth of nineteen employing himself assiduously, during a whole winter, in endeavours to corrupt the principles of a boy of sixteen, in order ❝ to unmask the hypocrite, and then hold him up to the derision of his associates!" Where do we find such cool malignity at that early age, when the heart and the mind are fresh and fair as the bloom of spring! Where, too, may we find such a mentor at the age of sixteen as Willoughby? The whole story is an unnecessary episode; it is excessively absurd, and not fitto appear in a book intended for modest eyes. In a few months afterwards, at that awful scene-the Richmond theatre-from which recollection still recoils with horror-where nothing could have been heard but shrieks of anguish and tones of despair, we find this young monster, contriving the destruction of a beautiful female, at the instant when she had escaped from the flames, and had fainted in his arms. Is it possible that the whole world contains such adamant as this, or rather did the mind that imagined it, imbibe its first impressions in the den of a tyger?

We have another instance of American manners, which will excite a stare among our female readers. We allude to the behaviour of miss Cushing, a young lady, who was "every thing the fond parent could wish," and "had acquired every accomplishment that a genteel education could bestow." At the house of her father, Willoughby being introduced to two young ladies, is compelled," blushing and hesitating," to kiss them! Indecorums of this sort, together with certain vulgar phrases, interdicted as every one knows, in "genteel" society, so frequently occur, that we are willing rather to impute them to the ignorance of the author than to a design to villify his country.

In chapter sixty-two, there is an account of the officers who were stationed at Niagara, which deserves the scverest reprehen

Cressap, upwards of sixty years ago. It is presumed to be the carcase of a savage who probably fell at an assault upon castle Cressap, somewhere about the middle of the last century.

Potatoe Bread.-Boil the potatoes not quite so soft as common; then turn the water out and let them hang over the fire and dry a short time; then peal them while they are hot, and pound them as fine as possible; then take a small quantity of pearl ash, which should be added to new yeast, which is working briskly; add the potatoes to these ingredients, and knead them together; then add as much rye meal or flour as you can possibly work inthe whole should be pounded together with a pestle or something of the kind no water to be added at any time. After the dough is thus prepared, let it stand an hour and a half or two hours before it is put into the oven. Be particular in following these directions, and you may make as good bread as can be made from the best rye and Indian meal; indeed many give it the preference. It does not require quite so long time to bake, as the common brown bread.

Potatoe Soup. In the third volume of the third edition of the Bath society papers, page 107, will be found a receipt of the reverend H. I. Clow, an able agriculturist, for making potatoe soup, of which the following is a copy:

"An ox's head, two pecks of potatoes, a quarter of a peck of onions, three quarters of a pound of salt, and an ounce and a half of pepper-to be boiled in ninety pints of water, on a slow fire until reduced to sixty. A pint of this soup, with a small piece of meat, is sufficient to satisfy an hearty working man with a good meal. Some of every vegetable with a few herbs may be added."

On the 27th day of December, in the year 1816, the weather was so warm as to render it necessary to cover all the fires in the house of representatives at Washington; and nearly the same degree of heat had continued for several days.

Thermometrical observations, made in Alexandria, August 2nd December, 1816.

By the above observations it will be seen that the morning of the 27th December was three degrees warmer than that of the 22d of August; and that the heat of the 21st of August at two o'clock, afternoon, was only one degree above that of the 27th of December.

Merinoes. The breed of Merino sheep is spreading over our whole country. In the last New-Orleans' paper received are advertised, "twenty full-blooded Merino sheep, received by the ship Ellen."

The brig Cincinnatus, of Cincinnati, Ohio, one hundred and ten tons burthen, was lately launched at that place. This beautiful vessel is owned by a company of this place, and is intended to sail as soon as the water will permit, with a cargo of pork, flour, &c.

From the Utica Patriot.

Livonia, Nov. 12, 1816.

Mr. Bemis-My mother-in-law, Sally Babb, is now in the ninety-sixth year of her age During the last year she spun two hundred and seventy-six runs of yarn, of different kinds. Between the months of February and October, of the present year, she spun seventy-three runs of woollen, and ninety-nine runs of linen yarn. In September last, she spun forty-eight knots in one day, between sun-rise and sun-set, and the day following fifty-six knots of handsome woollen yarn. She has spun the yarn for, and knit ten pair of stockings this fall. She now performs a day's work with as much facility as if she was but eighteen. She can read in her Bible, or any other book without spectacles. The latter she never used in her life, and her organs of hearing are but

little impaired. If you think it of sufficient interest, you will please insert this communication in the Repository.

ELNATHAN B. BRONSON.

Maria Catalani was born at Sinigaglia, in the land of the Church, and descended from an honourable family. She was placed early in a convent, where she remained till she was fourteen years of age. Her voice even then was so surprising, that she was applauded whenever she sung in the choir with the nuns; and on that account her singing was prevented, lest her vanity should be excited. Her talents developed themselves so early, so rapidly, and in such a peculiar manner, that at the age of fifteen years she appeared with success at the side of Marchesi and of Crescentini. At this period the court of Portugal collected at great expense several virtuosi at Lisbon. Catalani was invited at a salary of twenty-four thousand crusades (twelve thousand crowns.) She remained four years in Portugal, and then travelled through Spain and France, proceeding to England, where very advantageous proposals were made to her. She sung at Madrid and Paris. In the first of those towns a single concert produced three thousand five hundred louis d'ors. At Paris she gave a concert, for which the tickets were a louis each. She remained eight years and a half in England, and never did a singer in that rich country collect so abundant a harvest. Her benefit concerts were worth more than ninety thousand guineas, independent of the considerable presents that she received for private concerts. She left that country which was to her a mine of gold, for the purpose of going to Paris, where the king has granted her the privilege of the Italian theatre. She is the sole proprietor and directress of this theatre, which, during her absence, had been confided to the celebrated Puer. She wishes to revisit her native country, from which she has been so long absent; but in going thither she performs a great circuit, as she travels through Germany, and will give concerts at Hanover, Hamburgh, Berlin, Dresden, and Vienna. Madame Catalani is about thirty-two years of age; but she seems younger, because, independent of a distinguished figure, she has a beautiful Roman head. She is so modest with such talents, that she is called La Cosa Rara.-She has been married eleven years to M. de Vallabreque, an old officer of hussars, but she has resolved to keep her own name of Catalanis