church. The soldier was already there, and the wondrous light was again visible.

my quarters. Some time ago I had a tolerably large concave mirror or burning-glass to frame. This glass chanced one evening, while I was at work, to be placed in such a position as to throw a light through my window upon one of the windows of the church. I was suddenly roused from my occupation by a noise in the street, which proceeded from a number of people collected there. Curiosity induced me to open the window, and I heard them talking of a wonderful light in the Jesuit's church over the way. I was myself not a little astonished, on looking at the church, to observe that it was completely illuminated. It was not long, however, before I guessed the

The concourse of people was, as may easily be imagined, immense on this occasion. The general actually found it necessary to post a guard at the church-door before it was opened. As soon as we entered the church, we found ourselves surrounded by a magic light, the rays of which seemed to be thrown from exactly that part of the high-altar where the pyx is usually kept: nay, what was still more wonderful, it was of a circular form, and precisely of the dimensions of the host. This phenomenon could not fail to produce many extraordinary and absurd inferences in the minds of the yet very super-real cause of this phenomenon. I stitious spectators.

changed the position of my mirror, and the light in the church instantaneously vanished.

"Soon afterwards, when the gaping spectators had dispersed, I made repeated experiments, and always with the same success as before. Not a soul besides my comrade, who lodg ed in the same room with me, knew what had happened with the mirror; I charged him to keep the matter a profound secret, and he did not betray it. When I had finished the mirror, I ought to have delivered it, and yet I wished to keep it a little

The soldier then conducted us to the altar, and directed our attention to that part of the church-window from which the rays of light, concentrated into a focus, were thrown upon the altar. He next begged the commandant to take the trouble to go with him to his quarters, where he would shew him how he contrived to make the concentrated rays of light fall upon the window, and precisely upon the high-altar. The general, and as many of his suite as the place would admit, followed the soldier to the garret of a high house ex-longer for this purpose. I therefore actly opposite to the church. Here we found a mechanic who, with a concave mirror, had, agreeably to the known rules of optics, but quite accidentally and undesignedly, pro-request, but also assisted me by his duced the phenomenon which appeared so wonderful, and had given rise to so much conjecture.

"I am employed," said the soldier, "by this optician, who sometimes gives me work to take home with me to

disclosed the matter to this optician, and begged him to allow me to retain the mirror for a short time for this use. He not only complied with my

skill to render the illusion more complete. He also raised an objection at the outset to my room; 'for,' said he, if we do not procure another, people will perceive whence the light proceeds.'

tioned in the church, as they might easily have discovered the deception."

"We therefore consulted the landlord of the house, and initiated him into our secret. He offered us this little garret, the window of which is not visible from the street. Here it is that, till the present moment, our operations have been carried on. Whenever they were going forward, my comrade was sent out into the street to notice what was passing there, and to bring me word. Accordingly I made the light disappear when your excellency caused the church to be opened; but no sooner did I hear that it was shut up again, than the light again became visible. In like manner, I was cautious enough not to produce any illumination on the night when the sentries were sta- " to the wonder.

This explanation was perfectly satisfactory to the general, and to every other person of ordinary intelligence. He therefore paid the soldier the promised reward of ten dollars, but with a strict injunction not to play any more tricks of the sort. The general was, nevertheless, prevailed upon the following day by the solicitations of many curious persons, to permit a few more repetitions of the spectacle for the benefit of the actors, who obtained a considerable sum by the exhibition. After curiosity had been gratified, and ignorance duly enlightened, there was an end

ACCOUNT OF THE HARMONY SOCIETY, IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

SIR,

TO THE EDITOR.

The Harmony Society, now settled on the river Wabash, in the North American state of Indiana, chiefly consists of Wirtemberg emigrants, most of whom quitted their country in the year 1804.

spring, to leave behind them a writIn this colonizing age, I have ten statement, tending to correct the no doubt that the following account misrepresentations of ignorance and of a community of Europeans settled malignity. The report of these perin the wilds of America, whose con- sons, who have belonged to the Sostitution and regulations are not per-ciety ever since its first institution, is haps to be paralleled on the face of as follows: the globe, will prove acceptable to your readers. This community was originally composed of natives of Wirtemberg; and though much has been published in Germany on the subject of their establishment, yet I believe its existence is scarcely known in this country. The foreign accounts, however, founded chiefly on hearsay, abounded to such a degree with prejudice, error, and falsehood, that two members of the society in question, who were sent to their native country to transact a variety of business in behalf of their brethren in America, deemed it right, on their return last

After their arrival in Philadelphia, they performed a journey by land of about 400 miles; and at the distance of about 35 miles from the town of Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania, they purchased 6000 acres of uncultivated land, at the rate of three dollars per acre. As there were among them many families who possessed no pro

perty whatever, rich and poor, actuated by powerful religious feelings, associated together, and voluntarily deposited all they had in one common stock, for the purpose of jointly cultivating the land; and it was agreed that in case any of the members should in process of time chuse to secede from the Society, they should have a right to demand back only the amount of their original contribution.

There were about fifty families who, on the 15th February, 1805, entered into this agreement; the number has since increased to one hundred and fifty families.

drawn up by the members themselves, and permitted by circumstances-many a prejudiced observer, who is ignorant of the basis of our constitution, has erroneously considered the authority of the Warden as self-assumed and unlimited; nay even insinuated, that a despotism is gradually forming among us. But those who are capable of judging impartially, and appreciating the ties which bind this community together, need not be told that such a system cannot subsist in the United States, where the voice of the people alone governs, and where the presiding officers are always elected by the majority of votes. No person can hold any office among us without the will and approbation of the members of the Society, and whoever should strive to force himself into one would be the least likely to succeed.

After these points had been arranged, a fit site for a town was

was transformed into corn-fields and meadows; and mills and manufactories, and other necessary edifices, were successively erected.

As no community or society can long subsist without certain officers; so in this case it was evident that order and propriety could not be duly maintained without something of this sort. The Society therefore had recourse to the expedient of a public election,and chose,almost unanimously, John George Rapp of Ipptingen, a man of sound religion, understand-sought, and houses built; the forest ing, experience, and firmness, to be the first Warden, and seven other persons to be Elders of the community. These were charged with the superintendence of every thing connected with the well-being of the Society, both in spirituals and temporals, and with the execution of the rules and ordinances which the members had themselves framed and adopted. As therefore the executive power is intrusted by the general consent to the Warden and Elders; namely, for the purpose of suppressing all irregularities and vices which are contrary to the word of God and the Christian religion; for watching that extravagance and luxury, either in dress or any other particular, may not exceed the limits appointed by the rules Vol. III. No. XIII.

It was not long before some families manifested a desire to separate from us, because social life did not at the first moment come up to their expectations; for every beginning is difficult, and so was ours. After the Society had existed about half a year, the above-mentioned families actually seceded, and demanded the immediate repayment of their respective contributions. But, as nearly the whole of the money had with their consent been expended on land, cattle, and other stock, and the Society had yet no returns, and was consequently incapable of refunding the

E

whole amount at once, the magis- a spot more suitable for our settle

ment. When these deputies returned, and made their report respecting Indiana, the Society resolved, after mature consideration, to sell the first establishment, called Harmony, and to remove to that state. The place was accordingly sold, with the 6000 acres of land, to two Americans for 100,000 Spanish dollars, payable in ten years. The settlement had therefore increased in value four hundred per cent. in ten years.

trates of our district appointed the term within which it should be paid. This circumstance has afforded occasion to some to assert, most erroneously, that no one can leave us without sacrificing all he possessed. The fact is, that we have no compulsory members; for every one is at liberty to go when and whither soever he pleases. It would be a melancholy thing if, in a free country, a person were tied against his will to any particular spot. Now that the circumstances of the Society are improved, every one who wishes to leave us is instantly dismissed with his property, but without any addition or interest, which cannot be divided, unless aed of the government at the rate of majority of the members vote for the dissolution of the community.

In the course of a few years, when we had made considerable progress in agriculture, in the breeding of cattle, and even in planting vineyards and orchards, the natives of the country thronged from all quarters to see and to admire what Wirtemberg industry and united efforts had accomplished in so short a period. period. The fame of the Society was consequently spread far and wide.

Finding, however, by experience, that the climate was extremely unfavourable for the production of fruit and wine, and that we should never have much to expect from our vineyards, on account of the late spring frosts; as also that the soil was poorer than we could have wished, and that all our surplus produce was to be conveyed a considerable distance to market by land-carriage; we were induced, in the spring of 1814, to select three of our number, and to send them to the state of Indiana, which has a warmer climate, to seek

The removal, which was effected upon the Ohio, commenced in June 1814, and continued in parties till May 1815, when the whole Society was again assembled on land purchas

two dollars and a half per acre. It is situated on the east side of the river Wabash, in 38° 30′ north latitude, and about 90° west longitude from London.

The tract contains 25,000 acres of the best and richest land that is to be found. It has spacious woods, consisting of oak, beech, ash, three different sorts of wild walnut-trees, which grow to the thickness of 3 or 4 feet, and to the height of from 50 to 60 in the trunk, and are admirably adapted to all kinds of cabinetmakers' work; also gum-trees, wild figs, a species of service-tree, wild cherry, apple and plum-trees, besides wild vines of immense height and thickness, all of which produce fruit. The maple too, from the juice of which large quantities of brown sugar are made every spring, is very common; so is the sassafras - tree, from two to three feet thick; and there are several other sorts, as for instance, a kind of white poplar, which has a very compact wood, and is commonly used for boards and wains

coting. In the low grounds there are very large cypress-trees, which are useful for coopers' work and shingles. In the woods are found stags, deer, bears, wolves, badgers, hares, wild cats, serpents, wild turkeys, the cock of which frequently weighs twentyfive pounds, and many other birds.

On a fine plain, not far from the river Wabash, and so situated as to leave an intervening valley of pastureground, stands our new town, Harmony.

The streets are broad, and all run at right angles, direct from south to north, and from east to west. To each house is attached a garden, in such a manner that the house adjoins to the next garden, so as to be out of danger in case of fire.

The land now under cultivation, comprehending 3000 acres, is well adapted to wheat, rye, barley, maize, oats, hemp, flax, and rape. About 15 acres have been planted with vines, which for some years past have yielded considerable quantities of wine. In quality it nearly resembles the wine of Wirtemberg.

About one half of the inhabitants are engaged in agricultural occupations; the other half consists of all sorts of mechanics.

The produce of the land is stored in public barns. The corn and pulse are threshed by a machine, by which 75 Wirtemberg bushels of clean wheat have been obtained in a day; it is then conveyed to a granary, whence it is delivered out to the miller, who grinds it as it is wanted, and supplies each family with a certain quantity, according to its number.

The corn-mill, a fulling-mill, a mill to grind edge tools, four carding machines for wool and two for cotton, together with two large spinning-machines for cotton, are all worked by"

a steam-engine, which is situated at the south-east corner of the town, and cost about 25,000 dollars.

We raise a considerable quantity of wool ourselves, and the rest we obtain from the Americans in barter for cloth. The cotton - plant also thrives tolerably with us, but not near so well as in the province of Tenessee or Louisiana.

We have spinners, weavers, dyers, and, in general, persons of all those trades which are requisite for the manufacture of coarse and fine cloth; and all the artisans necessary for the supply of the ordinary wants of life.

Whoever needs a pair of shoes or boots, applies to the shoemaker, and is furnished with them gratuitously. In like manner, hats, coats, and other habiliments, as well as all sorts of necessaries, are delivered without pay. On the other hand, neither the husbandınan nor the mechanic receives any wages; but they serve one another with the gift bestowed upon them by God, as members of one body or as children of one father. To each trade, however, there is appointed a foreman, to whom all applications are made, who is enjoined by the Society to be watchful at his post, and not to do more or less in his line than circumstances and the regulations of the community authorize, that no member may, through mismanagement, be straitened or suffer want; but that, on the other hand, those who manifest any disposition to luxury or extravagance may be timely checked, and every thing be conducted with order and regularity.

All the surplus products of our land, as well as those of our manųfactures, for instance, shoes, leather, hats, also cattle and other articles, are sold for the benefit of the whole,