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INTERESTING FROM MEXICO.
The brig Kridgma, whiph arrived last,
evening from LagiiTla, (says the New Or-,
lean* Bee of the Ist inst.) which she left
<*n«the*i6th December, brings interest mg
intelligence derived from the British bar- j
que JTetit, from Sacrificios, then at Lngn
, ea. From this source we learn that the ,
town of Vera Cruz has been taken by the '
French after bombardment. The Mexican
General Arista was taken prisoner by the
French, and General Santa Anna was so
previously wounded as to render necessary
the amputation of a leg.
The Mexican government, not willing
to recognize the treaty entered into be
tween Admiral Baudin and General Itia
con, and having declared war upon the
French Government, General Santa Anna
placed himself at the head of ,'>ooo men,
aud entered VeraCrnz in spite of the trea
ty. Admiral Baudin having learned that
Santa Anna was advancing towards the
city, sent a number of boats filled with
troops, with orders to spike the cannon of
the batteries at Vera Cruz. While they
were engaged in this labor, the .Mexicans
came upon them, and slaughtered a con
siderable number of officers and soldiers.
The French were compelled to retreat to
wards the squadron, which opened a heavy
fire upon the town, dislodged the Mexicans,
and took possession of Vera Cruz. Wfi (
have been unable to ascertain the exact
loss on either side. We subjoin an extract
from a letter which a commercial house |
has had the kindness to place in our hands.
[Extract.]
Laguna de Terming*, Dec. 13th, 1838.
By the arrival of the British barque Pe
ru, from Sacrificios, I have learned that
Gen. Santa Anna arrived at V. Cruz with
•>OOO men, anti the French that were on
the shore spiking the guns of the batteries
had to retreat to their boats after losing
several horses and men. ft appears the
terms of the capitulation with the comman
der pfSan Juan de Ulloa were, that the
French should keep possession of the cas
tle, and the Mexicans of Vera Cruz until
the decision of the King of France was
learned, but the blockade was to be raised
immediately; but it is said that the Mexi
can government has disapproved of the
capitulation, and declared war against
France. I believe it, as the garrison of
Vera Cruz was not to exceed 1000 men,
and as soon as the French learned that
Santa Anna was coming, they Innded on
the morning of the 3d about ll o’clock, to
spike the guns, and the vessels commenc
ed throwing bombs into the barracks to
dislodge the troops. It is also true that
Santa Anna drove the French into their
boats and he received a severe wound in
the engagement, and has since had his leg
amputated. General Arista is a prisoner
of the French.
TEXAS.
Houston papers to the 12th instant hare
been received at New Orleans by the steam
packet Cuba from Galveston.
On the 10th instant General Mirabeau
Bonapmrte LaMar was inaugurated Pres*-
ident of the Republic of Texas., His in
augural address is published in the Hous
ton Register of the 12th, from which it
appears that the new President is decided
ly adverse to any annexation of Texas with
the Unite*!. States. He acknowledges
that the majority of the people are in favor
<>t it; that Congress inhibited the with
drawal of the proposition then pending at
Washington, yet he declares that on a
most mature consideration he has never
been able to perceive the policy of the pro
posed connection, nor to discover in it
any advantage either civil, political or
commercial which could possibly result
to Texas.—[Baltimore American.
FROM FLORIDA.
By the steamer Isis, Capt. Pearson, we
have received from a correspondent the
following information, dated,
Garey’s Feßry, Jan. 2,1839.
Dear Sir. By the Tampa express
which catne in last night, we learn that
there are upwards of 200 Indians in at
Fort Brooke. As soon as Captain Aber
crombie arrives, the emigration will com
mence. His arrival is shortly expected.
Report says that there is a large body of
Indians in the Ocklewaha swamp, “full
of fight.” Col. Twiggs, and staff, leave
to day for Silver Spring, twelve miles from
Fort Butler, and if favored, may hope to
indulge in the anticipated engagement
with the Indians. The probability now
is, that such an event will soon take place,
should such be the case, you will be ap
prised of it, by the earliest opportunity.
The Tallahassee Floridian of Dec. 29,
says, Gen. Taylor with one company of
Dragoons-and tWs?c-£ ‘W 2nd iwfa-'tsy,
mounted, arrived at Fort Frank Brook, at
Deadmau’s Bay, on the t&h inst., and
will scour that section Os she country to
the Suwanee with his troops and the dis
posable force that can be furnished at
that post. It is reported that in addition
to Tiger Tail and bis band, the Micasu
kies have also crossed the Suwaliee.
'Phis report is doubted. If any number
of Indians are in that section their trail
must be discovered, and we hope some
Since tike attack of tlie wagons on the
Magnolia road We have anticipated a rep
etition of the scene of last w inter, but
the judicious arrangement of the troops
bv Col.. Green ou this frontier, has intim
idated the savages and kept them beyond
the settlements. Geo, Taylor hasauthor
ised the purchase of one hundred htKses,
m addition to those already in service to
be divided among the several posts. This
; mounted force will be sufficient to follow
t any patty of maVßbdert Who may Venture
, to attack the settlements, and can be con
l centrated at short notice for any emer
gency.
Commodore Elliot. —Among the doc
uments connected with the Pennsylvania
conspiracy, as published by order of the
1 House, we find a correspondence between
1 Commodore Elliot and the Secretary of
, the Navy. The commodore under date
of the Kith instant, wrote to Mr. Panld ing
! from Harrisburg; stating that he rendered
himself there under the proclamation of
his Excellency the Governor, and making
at the same time the following proposi
tion: •
“I reached Harrisburg at 7 o’clock, ac
companied bv Passed .Midshipman Charles
Robinson; waited on the Governor, stated
to him my presence under his proclama
tion, in readiness to assist him in counsel,
ior in any way he might require my ser
vices; that 1 should remain in town till
quiet was re-established; in the mean
time, 1 mould endeavor, Ay miring trith
the partisans, to appear one, and restore
confidence with others .”
To this letter, w ith the most commend
able promptitude, Mr. Paulding forthwith
dispatched the follow ing tart reply and se
vere reproof:
Navv Department, Dec. 12, 1838.
Sin: Your communication informing
the Department "that under the procla
mation of the Governor of Pennsylvania,”
j you had proceeded from Carlisle to Har
risburg, for the purpose of "assisting him
in counsel, or in any other way lie might
require your services,” lias been received.
Tlie Department do not perceive that
the proclamation of Governor Ritner has
any reference whatever to the officers of
the Navy of the United States; nor does
it think you have acted with due discre
tion in thus mingling in the conflicts of
State authorities, in relation to disputed
points properly appertaining to themselves
and not requiring or authorizing the
intervention of any officer, naval or mili
tary, of the United States.
You will, therefore, on the receipt of:
this order, leave Harrisburg forthwith,
'and, together with Midshipman Robinson
j return to Carlisle, reporting your arrival
I at that place, and strictly abstaining from
all interference in civil conflicts, until
I otherwise directed by this Department.
I am, very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J. K. PAULDING.
| Com. Jesse D. Elliot,
! U. S. Navy, Carlisle, Pennsylvania,
j Commodore Elliot in a communication
I published in the National Intelligencer of j
j yesterday, corrects a missprint in the above j
1 letter; be states bis language was that he
(“would endeavor by mixing with the par
tisans to appease one,” instead of “appear
J one.”
The past season of low waters in the
j Western rivers has been marked by an
unusual number of steamboat losses.
The following list of disasters is furnish
!ed in a Cincinnati paper, but it is believ-
I ed not to comprise all that have occurred.
[When to these losses are added those
j which have arisen to the Western tncr
| chants in not receiving their goods bought
for the late fall trade, and also those con
nected w ith the disappointments of tra
ders who could not send produce to mark
et on account of the protracted period of
the navigation by ice—it will he found
, that the Western States have experienced
j a season of general and serious disadvan
| tage:
i Steamboat accidents on the Western
Waters during the past season.
jThcßolla, sunk.
“ Czar, “ raised.
" Clinton, “
" Platte, "
" Logansport,"
| ” Belle of Missouri, sunk.
I " Dart, "
j " Ashley, “
! " Gov. Dodge, "
“ Washington, "
" Gen. Brown, blown up.
“ Augusta, “
j “ Motto, sunk.
“ Chiliicothe,
" Corinthian, “
“ Cumanclte, '
! " Renown, “
i " Norfolk,
I “ Mississippi, “
A new Nose.— We learn from the Medi
! cal and surgical Journal of Boston that Dr.
J. M. Warren, of that city, has been a
second time successful at manufacturing
a nose from *he integuments of the fore
-1 head. The patient was a young lady re
*Siding iif Maine, who through the ignor
ance of a quack doctor in trying to demol
ish a pimple, completely destroyed her
nose. Her visage being thus rendered un
j seemly, she applied to Dr. Warren for as
sistance. She bore the rbinoplastic oper
ation without flinching, which was per
formed ou the 17th ult. Every thing has
worked kindly, the new nose knit by the
first intention, and the norstrils and w’itigs
are well turned, and promise to go on im
proving in appearance.—Cour. &. Enq.
The New York Star says—"An unin
terrupted line of rail road from this city
■ to Washington w ill now, we rejoice to an
, nouncc, be opened to the public about Jan.
I: the link from Jersey City to New Bruns
wick, and onto Trenton, being entirely
completed. The whole route from Wash
ington will thus be made in seventeen
j hours: the mail leaving the morning and j
arriving before midnight.' 1
BRUNSWICK ADVOCATE.
[ [Correipondence of the Boston Morning Poet.]
A BOAT RACE.
Cincinnati, Nov. 29, 1838. — 1 believe
1 must give a short account of a regatta,
or boat race, that took place'at Louisville
on the I9th of the present month it having
caused a good deal of interest among the
young men along the river, f bad my ac
count from a who felt
• [ proud of the achievement, and hence, per
haps, the young men of Louisville may
give a somew hat different account,
i The Gipscy Boat Club, of Louisville,
publicly offered, in the newspapers, a bet
of five hundred dollars, that they could
heat any Club who might choose to take
the bet, from the “Head of the Hollow to
Blue Water,” that is, from Pittsburgh to the
ocean. The Glaucus Club, of Pittsburgh,
composed of youngsters, accepted the chal
lenge, and descended the river to make
the trial.
Each boat had eight men. The Ken
tuckians, I am told, were strong athletic
men; the Pennsylvanians were young,-
small, and slender; none older than twen
ty-one.
The shore, houses, and steamboats,
j were covered with people of both soxes
and all ages. Twenty thousand spectators
were waiting to see the race. The Ken
tuckians felt that their “fate was hanging
on a pin hook.” The officers of all the
steamboats bet high on Old Kentuck.—
The signal of departure was given—the
boatmen plied the oars—shouts from the
anxious crowd boomed along the shores—
tlie outer distance was accomplished—the
"buoy” reached and turned—the Gipsey,
Old Kentuck’s favorite, still ahead—from
that point down to the goal the Glaucus
struck a ‘bee hive’ sweeping along in the
full current —Gipsey selected the eddy
water. The race was close, and the re
sult doubtful until near the close, when
young Anshautz, the coxswain of the
Glaucus, said, "Now, my lads, bend to
your oars!” They did; aud .gained the
race by half a boat's length. It is said
that thirty thousand dollars were lost and
won on this race. Distance rowed, four
and a half miles—time, twenty-one min
utes and a half. The Kentuckians proffer
ed anew bet. The Pittsburg lads said,
"Gentlemen, we have met you and beat
you—come to the ‘Head of the Hollow’
and we will Such is a picture
of the sports of the West.
The bloody affray at Louisville.*— The
; murderous affray at Louisville, of which
mention was made in our last, has, as
might have been expected, created a great
degree of excitement among the people
■of that city.
The Louisville Journal of the 18th inst.
j sa y s —
I Judge Wilkinson, Dr. Wilkjnson, and
Mr. Murdough, who took part in the bloody
affray at the Galt House on Saturday even
ing, were taken from the jail, yesterday
morning amidst a very large concourse of
people and carried before the Examining
j Court. The examination, however, at the
j solicitation of the prisoners, was deferred
till tomorrow. Judge Wilkinson spoke
; for a considerable time in behalf of him
self and his fellow prisoners, earnestly de
precating violence on the part of the mul
titude. The prisoners were then remand
ed to jail.
Mr. Rothwell, who fell in the affray,
was buried yesterday, his body being fol
lowed to the grave by the military, the fire
companies, and an immense procession
of citizens. There was evidently a pow er
j fill excitement amid the assembled throng
[ —almost too powerful to be repressed.
The same paper of the 19th states that
! efforts had been made to excite public feel
ing to the prejudice of the prisoners, and
the editor earnestly deprecates the com
mission of violence against them. He
says: —‘‘Let justice be done according to
the guarantees of the constitution and the
law. He who encourages or even hints
at an appeal to any other tribunal, deserves
to be branded as an enemy to society.”
In the Journal of the 20th we find the
following paragraph:
The persons who are in custody for the
' affray at the Galt House, are to be brought
i before tlie Examining Court to day.—
Once more we appeal to our fellow citizens
[ not to disgrace the soil of Kenutucky by
mob violence. Let every virtuous citizen
and every officer of the law unite in a de
termination to preserve order and to put
down promptly and energetically the first
; movememt towards interfering with the
regular execution of the law. The laws
must be enforced. They will be enforced.
Nop.th Eastern Boundary. —The ed
itor of the New Y ork Courier and Enquir
jer has seen a letter by the Gladiator, d.;>
j ed London, the 19th November, to a high
ly respectable gentlemen of New York;
which says,
j "lain enabled to assure you from a
source which may be relied on, that a
I new convention in relation to the North
eastern Boundary, was concluded yester
day by our Minister and this Government,
, which will probably be forwarded to the
(United States by the Gladiator.”
j
[From the Boston Transcript.]
j Safe Arrival out or the “Great
Western.” —The Backwoodsman pub
lished at Grafton, Illinois, announces the
safe arrival at Bluffdale, in that county, of
the ark on w heels, built l>y Mr. Fessenden,
of our neighboring town of Dorchester,
i for the purpose of conveying himself and
—nine in number—to Illinois.—
iThis ark, or omnibus, is seventeen feet
long, ten feet high, about six feet wide,
I and contains accommodations for cooking,
j washing, sleeping, and every convenience
an emigrating family could desire. The
interior contains a space of 1020 cubic
, feet. On its rout it excited universal at
[ tention, and hundreds examined the “mov
' >ng house.” In passing through Morgan
| county, the Governor of the State visited
Mr. Fessenden and his family, and named
his locomotive dwelling “The Great Wes
tern,” by which name it was distinguished
until it arrived at Bluffdale, the end of its
journey, where Mr. Fessenden, having
found no want of good permanent houses,
has laid his land-ship up in ordinary. Let
it be carefully preserved, and a century
hence, the multiplied descendants of Mr.
F. will probably take pride in exhibiting it
to their friends as a noble specimen of the
Y'ankee notions of “the olden time.”
The following is a copy of the letter to
which Mr. Adams made reference on
Monday, in the House of Representatives.
No account was taken upon it, and some
of the members pronounced it a quiz:
Montgomery, (Ala.) Dec. 19.
J. (i. Adams: Sir: In looking over the
proceedings of congress I observed that
you have introduced your fantastics again
by trying to impeact thccaricter and hon
er of our Minister to England, Mr. Stev
enson. M. S. is a relative of mine one
who I hold dear to me and shall call you
to account when I get to wasington 1
think and so does the country that Mr. S.
was condisending to much to notice supt
a prince of devels, such as I consider you,
| and on arriving in metropolis I shall shoot
[ you the first time you rise make any re
marks about my friend M. S. So soon as
M. C. Ferry returns to the U. S. you will
die certain, you are better suted for a
cell in the mad house, then a seat in one
! of the highest places on earth, I am a sea
! faring man myself and would to my god
ware I premitted to see you in the act of
speaking disrespectfully of my friend’s
if you mention their nams no explanation
will satisfy me only to take your life and
that I shall dou in the presence of the as
sembled wisdom of the world, 1 expect to
fight a duel in the D. C. of Columbia be
j for the session is ended, if you open your
bread trap about that mode of settling
I affair I shall be as much induced to assau
as on most any thing els I shall be in
Wasington by the 2d January, 1839.
B. J. CONRALD.
Lynchburg, Dec. 20.
Dr eadkul Fire. A letter from E.
[ M’Gavock, Esq., Post-Master, Wythe
Court House, to the Editors of the Virgini
|an says:—“l stop the mail to inform you
i that one third of our town is in ashes.—
[The fire broke out about 4 o’clock this
| morning. We are in great confusion.—
1 Many of the citizens are without houses
(to which to take their families. The loss
I cannot be estimated. Comparitively, it is
greater than that which resulted from the
[ fires in New York and Charleston.”
The value of the real estate in a large
number of the counties of North Caroli
i na is said to have been tripled in two years
j in consequence of the prosecution of the
| works of internal improvements within
| her borders.—This is the experience of
| New York, Pennsysvania, and indeed of
every State which has been wise enough to
promote the developement of its resources
by Rail Roads and Canals. And so, too,
i will it be of Maryland, when the latter re
moves the impolitic restrictions which
I clog the late grants in aid of her public
works.—[Baltimore American.
Puffs.— We have seen a great variety
|of these compositions, but the following
; one, which is a copy of the paper accom
panying "Dr. Beecher’s Bitters,” is the
[ most remarkable specimen we remember
i ever to have read:—
"This new, and much admired bever
age, is a luxury to the palate, and a cordial
'to the constitution. It enlivens the mind
and invigorates the body. This extraordi
; nary compound, which has cost the study
;of years, in a chemical laboratory, com
! bines all the virtues of the ‘Matchless San
-1 live,’ Swaim’s Panacea,’ and ‘ Evins’s
Sublime Preparations of Camomile Flow
ers.’ It will entirely supplant the use of
Animal Magnetism and Phrenology, and
will, without their aid, fully develope the
faculties and secrets of the humau mind.
In short, if taken in sufficient quantities,
these Bitters will never fail to allay pain,
‘ wherever seated, and will be an admirable
adjunct to the labors of the Statesman,
Philosopher, Poet, and Lover.”
* Howto gc,i-i ’Tis hot every In w
; ycr that can gain his suit, even w ith a show
'of argument on his side. The following
j case, therefore, may be considered the
more extraordinary, where there was not
the slightest cause of action. A few days
since a black fellow came running in
breathless haste to the dwelling of a grocer,
i whose store is in Pratt-street stating that
in removing a hogshead of molasses at
the store, it had bursted and covered Mr.
from head to fool; and that he had
been sent as fast as he could run to bring
him another suit of clothes before he could
! move out of his tracks. The kind iady of
; the grocer did not w ish to see her husband
so entirely “buried in sweets,” and with
i becoming haste delivered to the supposed
messenger anew suit throughout, with
which the rogue decamped, pleased that
his own viiiiany had furnished him with a
valid excuse for disappearing in a hurry.
[Transcript.
THE LUMBER BUSINESS* No. I.
[For the Brunswick Advocate.]
Mt. Editor, 4
I propose to make a few statements through
yoor paper, in regard to the natural wealth of
this section of country ; also some remarks ia>
regard to the improvements going on, or pro
jected amongst us. Nothing can be of more
service to the interest of any community, or
the individuals of a community, than to have
I laid before them foil and correct estimates of
their own resources. But without laying claim
to any merit for endeavouring to contribute a
little to this end, I wish on the other hand to
have iuiistinctly understood, that what I do
is far from being intended to favor the schemes
of any individual, or any fierce gigantic and
vaulting speculator. So far I may succeed in
promoting good objects. I shall expect and
endeavor to show the benefits in common with
others and no farther.
As the lumbering business, is beginning
to attract some attention in this section, and is
destined to attract still more, I will make some
statements in regard to that first—The lime
has arrived when the timber between the
Alatamaha and the St Mary’s River presents
the greatest means we have of immediate and
certain wealth. To show this let some of the
circumstances in connexion therewith be nar
rated. Between the St. Mary’s and Alatama
ha there is not less than 2,000,000 acres of
land, well timbered with the first quality of
yellow and pitch pine; species of timber which
are continually increasing in value and de
mand. The greater part of this timber is ac
cessible by water carriage, that is, by the St.
Mary’s, Satilla, and Turtle Rivers, and nume
rous creeks and coves that indent the coast.
The facilities for obtaining some parts of it are
unequalled in any part of the world. Never
tlieless, owing to certain causes which I may
hereafter speak of, there has been compara
tively but a little of this timber cut. One
cause, however, I will name now, is the great
quantity of timber of similar species that has
been cut on the Ogeechee, Savannah, and
other rivers in South and North Carolinas.
But the timber on those rivers, which was al
ways inferior in value to the timber in this sec
tion, has now become scarce, that is, at all
points whdre it can be easily obtained and
sent to market. To prove this to be the case,
we need notice but one or two facts. With
all the people’s experience and artificial facil
ities on those rivers (which is a great consid
eration) timber suitable to saw into boards
and plank cannot be delivered at ship naviga
tion short of $8 per thousand ; while timber
of a much better quality can be delivered at
the mouths of our creeks and rivers for $3
per thousand. This gives us in the process of
manufacturing, an advantage of $5 per thous
and. Add to this, (which we may do with
propriety and certainty, over the lumber in
the Carolinas) $3 more in the rates, and we
have an advantage of $8 per thousand.
Now-, one great cause of the increasing
value of our timber, aside from the demand,
is the discovery of steam power, and the great
perfection to which it has of late been carried
in its application to the sawing of lumber.
It could easily be proved by certified facts, if
it was necessary, that timber, round or square,
can be manufactured into boards by steam
power at a cost of not over $3 per thousand,
including the interest on the money invested
in mills. As in part proof of this, I will here
make a statement or two Steam mills
can be erected for S7OOO to a saw or gang of
saws. One single saw or one gang of saws
will cut, w hen properly attended, at least 5000
feet in 24 hours, which would be 130,000 feet
per month, 1,500,000 feet a year. The num
ber of hands necessary to attend a saw, or
gang of saws, including engineers, is not over
seven. Reckoning these at S4OO a year each,
including board, and you have an expense for
labor, of S2BOO Add to this S2OO for re
pairs, and you have an expense of S3OOO.
Add to this the interest of S7OOO, at eight
per cent, and you have an annual outlay of
$3560 ; divide this by the amount sawed in a
year, (1248 m.) with a deduction of 20 per
cent for contingences, and you have a cost of
about $2,85 cts. per thousand for sawing.
Add to this $3 per thousand for the cost of
timber at the mill, and you have an expense
or outlay of $5,85 cts. per thousand, or an an
nual expense of about $7304. The interest
on the small amount of capital necessary to
carry on a mill after it is built, is hardly
worth considering.
Allowing in the next place, you sawed
lumber to sell for sl2 per thousand at the head
of ship navigation, (where mills should.always
be placed to prevent lumber from being split
dirted, lost, and otherwise injured by removal)
which is below its present value, (it has been
estimated by some at sls per rn.) and you
have an annual gross amount from one saw, or
one gang of saws, of $14,97(1, or a nett profit,
on an investment of S7OOO, besides interest at
eight per cent, of at least $7,670. Mills buifl?
on a large scale, that is, with from three to
six saws or gang of saws under one roof, the
economy is much better, and the expense
much less in proportion. Every part of well
built steam mills will last ten years, and can
then be rebuilt for about one half of the origi
nal cost. As I said at first, there is between
the rivers St Marys and Alatamaha at least
two million acres of excellent timber lands.
These will yield at least, at the first, cutting,
3000 feet to the acre, which, when manufac- j
tured at $5 nett profit per thousand, (which is j
less than the reasonable expectation under
'».-*■ "W
thMMMeatf*MP 3<of thing*) would afford a
Jjj giinjif lljlj —iliiiu of dollar*. In ten
a —c—dccap aould be obtained
same Hud of nearly equal value.
Such is die field, the advantages, and pros
pect of the ImnberinglhMiMli In this section
of country.
I see by a late statement in the Eastern
(Bangor) Republican, that the nett annual
profits of the lumbering business in the State
of Maine is five millions of dollars, including
the standing timber. This statement is un
questionably true. But unfortunately this im
mense profit is mostly monopolised by the ow
ners of the timber lands who hold them at
from five to ten dollars per acre, and thestand
ing timber at from three to five dollars per
thousand. I see no better way to prevent
this monopoly in oor section, than to throw
early and correct light to the view of all, so
that all can have an equal chance.
RrrLtcTOK,
THE ABOLITION QUESTION.
We extract below, from the Correspond
ence of the Charleston Courier, the most sen
sible, rational and correct account of the pres
ent state of parties upon this question, that we
have yet seen:
[Correspondence of the Charleston Courier.]
Washington, Dec. 25.
It has been supposed here, as I mentioned
in my last, that the abolition question here
was about coming to a crisis. Ido not think
there is much room for the supposition. Ido
not see it in the unity, either of the south or
the north on the subject.—Among the southern
members there are at least three distinct par
ties to the abolition question as presented to
Congress. There is one party opposed to the
reception and discussion of petitions or propo
sitions on the subject; there is another party
in favor of reception, but against discussion \
there is anotlier party against reception, but in
favor of discussion, when received. The whole
number of votes agaius. reception and discus
sion is, I believe, about thirty. The members
from the non-slave holding states are very
much divided in their opinions upon the sub
ject The whole number of members of the
House of Representatives in favor of legisla
tion on the subject of slavery in the District
of Columbia is eight. The quarrel in the
House, at present, relates mainly to rules, and
their construction. Mr. Bouldin, of Virginia,
says, if the country must go to war, he wants
to know what it is for. If he fights, he wants
to fight about something more substantial than
a question of order. Neither Congress nor
the country has yet come to any issi/t on the
question of abolition ; and the crisis talked of
is not yet. The abolition question can come
to no crisis, until it becomes more involved
with politics; and until it becomes a geograph
ical question, as the Missouri question was.
It is barely possible that fanatical and politi
cal abolitionism may make sufficient headway
in a few years, to control the elections in the
non-slave holding states. Then we may in
deed, have an issue, and expect a crisis. But,
even then, the war will be one of parties in the
non-slaveholding states. The South will be
less shaken by it than the North. The North
must bear the blunt of the battle, and there is
every reason to believe, that there the voice
of the Union and the Constitution will be vic
torious.
Fire at Richmond, Va.—On the night
of Saturday (29th ult.) Richmond was
visited by one of the most extensive fires
which ever occurred in it; and which
destroyed the Eagle Hatel, and three large
brick tenements. Some of the lodgers in
the Hotel had but little time to escape,
and some lost clothes, valuable papers,
dec. The loss by this fire is said by the
Compiler of Ist inst. to be not short of
§160,000, upon which there is an insu
rance, available to the amount of §63,-
000.
The night was favorable. The wind
being still and the houses and streets cov
ered with snow.
That paper says:—Among the sufferers
was a lady who had put up on Saturday
evening at the Eagle under the protection
of Mr. Pope of Powhatan—a Miss Church
ill. We learn that she was a teacher.—
She had some §6OO or more in her trunk,
which with her other valuables and entire
wardrobe was consumed. Her loss is
more than §IOOO. She had barely time
to escape in undress, and walked across
the street to the American Hotel bar«>
footed on ice and snow, supported by the
arm of a gentleman who was kind enough
to lead her from out of a volume of smoke
where perhaps she might have perished.
We much regret the loss of property in the
above fire, though it has destroyed a very large
and very filthy tavern; and which has con
stantly excited the indignation of the good
citizens of Richmond, by being connected
with a gambling houae of the worst descrip
tion.
ATTEMPT TO ROB THE UNION BANK.
Charleston, Jan. 5.
A most daring attempt was last night made
to rob the Union Bank of this city. The rob
ber got admittance during the day, into the
Cellar, in which he concealed himself in a
part of it used to deposit Coal, by surround
ing his body with so large a mass of this sub
stance as effectually to elude the observation of
two of the officers’of the Bank who make a
nightly examination of the cellar. An officer
of the Bank was engaged writing therein until
11 o’clock. Subsequently to this the thief
bored auger holes in the floor from his position
in the cellar, and made a space in the flooring
large enough to admit bis body. He then
broke open nearly all the desks and drawers,
abstracted from 70 to 80 dollars in money, be
sides several articles of clothing, but not be
ing able to penetrate to the vaults, this was
the whole amount of his booty. He then
must have deliberately opened one of the win
dows of the Bank, looking into the street, and
made his escape, closing the shutters .after
him, and leaving his light extinghiahed on one
of the decks.