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MISCELLANY, A CHAPTER OX TtCN(|RTERS- There is nothing in this rapidly glowing country Which attains maturity more quickly than its “boyit andgirls.” Every thing in America proceeds on the ‘go-ahead’ system—our balloons rrac higher, our div ing hells sink deeper, our steamboats run faster, burst ultcncr and kill more people than those of any other land under Heaven. Our men are •smarter’ and strong er, onr women more beuuldul and fascinating, our peo ple more intelligent, virtuous suJ happy, than in any other country upon the face ol the globe. We are the greatest, wisest, wealthiest arid most powerful na tion of modern times. Our [’resident is lar superior to any ruler whom ills world has h id liuce the days of Solomon. All these results have been attained in an incredibly short period of time, it iieing but as yester day when the seed of that magnificent tree of empire was planted, which now casts its brosd shades from the Atlantic to the Pacific, and irtvites the oppressed of all climes to repose beneath its shelter. Hut there is nothing, even in the forced luxuriance of our American hot-bed, which can at all compare with the miraculous gurwtb of 119 children of both sex es, who seem to believe that a sense of duty to our country requires them to become men and women as Boon as possible, in order that the rapid progress of the republic may not be retarded by the w ant of acasonable reinforcements from the rising generation. It is sur prising the facility with which our sons are converted into young gentlemen, and our daughters into young t idies, in ihisfavored land. The urchin, who, in Eng land, would were a frock, ia here aimed in llte habili menu of a mail, with a stiff slock, a very fierce collar, nd a formidable cane to defend Inins If it necessary, against other young gentlemen of eqoully sanguinary dispositions. The young Indy, who, tn lands of slow er progress, would be quietly pursuing her edusation. has here entierly emerged fiotn the cbryanlia condition, and bedecked in all the gay hues of the full grown but terfly, is fluttering ab ut the gardens of lasbionable life. Compare Ihe American youngster with a hoy of bia inches in any olliei pail of the wmld,—Hoys in gen eral are well skilled in playing marbles, tops, kites, and the like, snd there their knowledge stops. The Atnercan lad is not only expert in the game, but he knows the msteiials of which his toys are made, how much they cost, and how to make u speculation with them. These are not the only fie'uls of his knowledge, lie soon advances into the deeper mysteries of busi ness and trad;. He stands behind a counter and hag gles with a customer by the hour fir the value of a cent. He becomes learned in the price of corn and potatoes. His parents point with pride to these proofs of the bid's precocity, and enuliingly declare he will make his own way in the world. Young ladies advance in ad detent courses with e qual rapidily. They have scarcely escaped from the nursery, before, through the agency of fashionable boarding-schools, they are transformed into little wo men, never moving a foot or a linger except by rule, never drawing a natural breath, but living entirely in the'-high sentimental latitudes,” and in blissful ignor ance of all that pertains to this lower sphere. At sev enteen, or thereabouts, usually called “sweet seven teen,” they become miracles of learning and science) they have soared to the loftiest heights of astronomy, fathomed all the depth of philosophy, umavelled all the intricacies of mathematics ; while the learned languag es are mere amusement and recrealion for their leisure hours. Thus armed and equipped, they “graduate,” and are prepared for the great purpose of lile—to daz zle with Iheir erudition, and fascinate with their grac, Bit admiring world. This is all very charming, no doolrt, and proves that we have arrived at a very high state of civilization, but we must plead guilty to preferring the good old times when “boys were boys,” and -‘girls were girls,” and when youth was the season for enjoyment, and not ol care and unnatural restraint. The spirit of Mammon ha 9 long ago achieved such a mastery over the minds of our countrymen, that we have Income proverbial throughout the earth, for an inordinate and unceasing pursuit of gain. Unbounded iodecd must he its influ ence, when it transfatms ruddy, jsyous boys into pre cocious merchants, taiuting with selfishness, the simple nature of childhood, teic.iing it the crooked arts of trade, and perverting it front lis original purity and straighiforwardness. The triumph of insubordination; of contempt of authority, and rash innovation upon Venerabla institutions, have been the standing reproach of oui country. Might not that stain be removed, if boys were nut so soon permitlid to become men, but taught by firm andjudiciouß parental discipline,to furm habits of obedience and reverence for authority at home? And, even the system offemale education, would it not be productive of more beneficial results, if it partook more of the character of domestic training, and were not considered as finished at a period of life when it is not mure than fairly commenced 1 Our country and our people will arrive soon enough at their -manifest destiny,” and attain a more healthy and permanent growth, by •‘making haste slowlt/.’’— Richmond Republican. Eugene Sue and the Unknown. —lt baa been the custom, says the Parisian Journal ‘tea Debates, lot the great novelist, notwithstanding his reputation as a man of fashion, to spend much of his time in visiting the garrets of the city, lelicvmg the poor, and at the some moment gathering a knowledge of human nature. — On a dark and sleety night last November, be was standing in one of the most wretched holes in Paris, tvheie a widow and her two children were lying in a state of shocking destitution. They were without bed. or covering or fire ; and tbe beauty of one of the orphan children, a girl of some fifteen, addid interest to the scene, Sue gave them some money, and left, resolving tn call next day. He did call, and to his ut ter astonishment, found the widow and her children surrounded with all the comforts of lift)—fire on the hearth, baskets of Bologna sausages in profusion, and in fact every thing necessary to make home happy.-* lu the midst of ibis scene of p elusion stood a slender young man very handsomely dressed. He was the ciuse of this sudden relief; the widow and her daugh ter hlcst him with teare in their eyes. Eugone Sue was much struck by this token of feeling in one so young, brilliant snd gay. When the young fashiona ble left he followed, determined to ascertain his resi dence, and after much trouble saw him enter a carriage near the Place Vendomc, and drive to the tlhasee d’ Antin- Bre followed, aaw the stranger enter the Hotel of tbe Due dt K —. He waited for an boor for hia reappearance, and at last saw a beautiful young lady of high lank conic out of the hotel and enter ber carriage. In that lady Sue recognized not only tbe handsome dindv, hut the Princes* d'Otleant, ene of the daughters ol Louis Philippe ! Makwio Frii with a Fines n.—- We can take any freedom with a friend—it is with him wc obseive no need of ceremony. This taking a friendly freedom often means taking somebody bv the arm, and drag ging him into a desperate scrape, because we reverence him strove all other men. This standing on no cere mony frequently implies silling below the salt at your friend's board, and being wholly overlooked in the flat tering attentions lavished upon a guest whom youi friend cares never to see agsin. Theso things drily happen in the beaten way of friendship. Dine with a man who had selected you from the whole world as hit own; who had eyes end chose you; who play* Hamlet to your Horatio. He aits you down to a friendly dinner, and gives you kis second beat port ;no hock—no champagne. Dine again, when he would not for the world you were absent, at he is detiious of rnlerlsining an illustrious obscure whom he despises. Too occupy no seat of honor, to be eure, on that occa sion, but you are regaled with jrour friend’s heat ports, aud invited lu deliver verdicts upon hi* champagne end claret. You are comparatively certein of being well treated when the entertainment is not got up on yoUT own account—when you play a subordinate part in the friendly comedy; although then if there happen to be ■ cold plate or a shabby bunch of grapes, you are tore of getting it, because your friend can “l ike the liberty with you,” he knows “you 1 don’t mind it.” We feel bound to be punctual and conscientious with those sse are indifferent about; while wa can afford at any time on tbe frostiest night, to be an hour after our eppointment with the aingte gentleman who occupies an apart ment in eur heart'* cor*. With him we ean play any prank tbst suite our humor, or suits our convenience. We can fail to visit him when he expects us, if we hev* to make a call upon an acquaintance; we ean I have his letter nnaneweied for a week, if we h*v* note* about nothing to reply to from unrespected correspon danU* Tbe pledge one give* him Uan after dinner promise to one's wife to be at home at eleven, which is rigidly observed if nothing happens 10 tempt one to break faith. It may he kept, or it may not be kept.— We ate to he punctual—if we like. AS I SOON SIN. The views contained in the following notice of the advantage which (his Territory possesses to the lar mere over the great Valley of the Mississippi, are per haps new to the public end should be widely circula ted t Wisconsin.— We published a few weeks since an interesting letter from a correspondent in Bloomington, Imva, which spoke in ery favorable terms of that fer tile region. As we like all to have ‘fair play,’ we in sert to-day a brief nonce of an enterprising and pleas ant village in Wisconsin, which, we are assured by t friend who has rectnlly visited it, is not overrated. Wisconsin is represented to be Ihe most healthy and pleasant country of all the -El Dorados’ of the West. The winters are much milder than in the western and northern part of New England, New York, and Penn sylvania ; and, what is -if vastly more importance, en tirely clear of those distressing and too frequently fatal levels which many parts of Illinois, lowa, Missouri, and other Western (States are subject to. Another great advantage which the farmer and busi ness man who settles in Wisconsin lias over those who locate in the great Valley of Ihe Mississippi and its tributary streams, is the increased price he can obtain fur bis wheat and other produce over hia more south western neighbors. Being located on or neir the great Northern Lnkes he has the entire i hoice ct either the New York, Bos ton, or Canada markets, by which he can obtain from twenty to fifty cents moie per bushel for his wheat than is paid at Bloomington, Burlington, Naples, Peoria, Peru, Springfield, Jacksonville, and other market towns of lowa and southern Illinois. Every rise in the price of grain (by the failure of crojis, war, or other causes) in England, at once ena blea the Canada grain-buyers to give more for grain on the Noithern Cakes lhan can be obtained in the south western Stales. Besides, all produce, such as flour, wheat, beef, pork, laid, Ac., which has to pass through the warm clnna'e of New CMeans to teach New York, Boston, or other Eastern ma'kets. is depreciated in val ue in contrast with that raised in Wisconsin and other Northern portions of the Union, which reaches New York and the other Eastern markets by the Northern route. To a farmer who has 500 or 1,000 bushels of wheat to sell, 20 or 00 ern s diffeience pei bushel in price makes a considerable itc-n in his income. If any one doubts the above facts we cheerfully refer him to the pi ice current of Milwaukie, Sheboygan, Chicago, De troit, or Buffalo, in contrast with those places named above, which are at too great a distance from the lake trade to hive the advantage of the northern mule to market. Many farmers towards the centre of Illinois cart their wheat from 100 to 150 miles north to Chi csgo to gain the advantage of the northern market. Those in lowa of course are precluded by being still located a greater distance from it. Wisconsin is a more rolling and not so flat a coun try as lowa and Illinois; hence more active streams, and of course less cause for creating agues or malignant and fatal fevers; lor, after all, without good health, bu siness, if ever so good, will nut bring comfort.—Penn sylvania paper. The Village or Shebutoan, which is one of the most beautiful and thriving towns in Wisconsin, is sit uated on the west shore of Lake Michigan, at the mouth of Sheboygan river, in Sheboygan county, Wis consin Territory, and is fifty live miles north-east from Milwaukie, and sixty five miles south from Green Bsy. Sheboygan river is capable of being rendered, at a comparatively small expense, one of the best harbors Upon the Western Lakes, end is without any improve ment accessible to a large number of the sail craft nav igating Lake Michigan. Near the mouth of the river is a pier extending into the lake some eight hundred feet, at which the largest sized steamboats stop to land freight and passengers. There is a good road from Sheboygan to Fond-du-Lac, at the head of Lake Win nebago, a distance of thirty-five miles from Lake Mich igan, and an appropriation of $3,000, voted at the last session of Congress, is now being expended in the fur ther improvement of this road, intersecting which are other roads leading to Madison, Fort Winnebago, Por tage, Ceresco, Green Lake, Green Bay, SiockbriJge, aud all other parts of the Territory. The surface of the land of Sheboygan and Fond-dn- Lac counties is slightly rolling, the soil is rich and ad mirably adapted to farming purposes. The timber con sists of sugar-maple, beech, oak, walnut, and a small proportion of pine, and is interspersed with beautiful prairies and ‘openings.’ The water is pure, and the streams all have an active current. The climate is similar to that of western New York, hut is somewhat milder. The difference of latitude between Buffalo and Sheboygan being about three-fourths of one degree, while the difference of longitude is vastly in favor of W isc on sin . These counties are entirely free from the ‘ague’ and other fevers to which ao great a portion of the Western country is subject, and they are rapidly being settled by enlerpriaing fanners from New Yoik and the New England States. Abundance of good land (combining timber, water, Ac.,) can yet be obtained there however, at Govern ment price, ($1,25 per acre,) which ia not the case ia the more seuthern portion of the Territory ; and per sons seeking anew home in the West will find it very much to their advantage to land at Sheboygan, and look at the surrounding country before going elsewhere, as. if Ihey are not pleased with the soil and climate, facilities wilt he aflordid them foi gelling to other por tions of Wisconsin—this being the most central lend ing in the Territory. —Sheboygan Gazette. From the Almanack of the Month — London. Finns-a-linaks’ Phrasis. —Penny a-liners are a eluas of people so called because they are paid tbree haltpence a line, not for wbat they write, but for so much of what they write m the editors of newspapers ehooae to insert. Their meals are accidents, their board and lodging offences, and their clothes are generally got out of the fire. These gentlemen hove a phrase ology exclusively their own. The lerms most in use are printed in the following phrase book for the use of peiaona who read newspapers and are pinzlud some times to understand them, Itcvouring Element means fire; as, ‘The dsvourng elements now fishing to Ihe monument a* if in anger, now round as if in spurt, goon razed it to the ground.’ However, the •devouring element’ is not applied to the fire, coal, or coke, or efate, or brick, which burns in the grate. Penny-a-liners do reef say ‘The leg of mutton waa roasted in no time by the scorching intensity of the devouring element of the kitchen.’ Electric Fluid is another word for lightning; as, speaking of the fig-tree in Fig-tree court, a penny-a lioer would tay, •The electric fluid struck the ill fated tree on its topmost branch, and running down it with unusual celerity, levelled it with its mother earth.’ A lore easily conceived than described,—' ’Phi* is an elegant termination to a difficult sentence, common to novelists, and their unhappy brothers Penny-a-lmers. Speaking of a gentleman who had been ca'ing two shillings’ worth of ptstry, and could not pay for them because hia pocket had been picked, it is uaual to say, •When Mr. Alfred Spooney pul bis band into bis pock et, and, diving into its recesses, found he bad not a penny, his feelings can be more easily conceived than described.’ This last phrase, it will be seen, though rather lengthy, saves a deal of embarrassing descrip tion. A Monster in the Human Form.— This monster m general is a boy who has broken a window, or given a runaway a knock. Any little event ia sure to be fathered on a •moviater.’ We recollect that Jones, when he was discovered in the <4ueen’s palace, was described as ‘a monster in the human form.’ A police office it • great mart for ‘monsters,’ and Newgate inva riably conlains one. •Monsters’ abounded moat at the time that the Rpyal Exchange and Houses of Parlia ment were burnt down. A ‘monster’ was supposed to be running about England -in human fo-m,’ burning everything. The term, in fact, is always uted when the author of accidents hut not been discovered. We will be bound that, if the Thame* ia ever set on lire, it wilt be described at being the woik of some ‘mon ster in human form.’ A Miscreant differs very little from the •monster,'— . Perhaps he is • shade worse; for instance, any body who strikes a policeman ia merely • ‘monster,’ but if he ttiiken a woman he ia a •miscreant.’ A mania on ly a •monster’ when lie deserts his wife; but if he leaves three children chargeable on the parish, or takes away with him the kayos the tea-caddy, then he ia nothing but a ‘miscreant.’ Vital Spark is tenancy as often a* there is an acci- * dent. In the report of a murder there Is always a (vital spark’ brought in. If the ‘History of England’ were ever to he written by a penny-e-liner, he would describe all the accidents and murders in Ihe regular reporters’ phraseology. ‘The body of Ruth was found, at two p. m., in the depths of the forest, when a medical man was immediately sent for. The restoialivee used in such cases were speedily applied, hut it was found that the ‘Vital spark’ had fled. The King ia suppoard to have (alien into the hands of some ‘monster in human form.’ ’ Launched into Eternity Isa favorite expression that is always coupled with si) cxeculion. It means that a person is hung. TM term is only applied to human beings. From the New York Courier A Enqtlirer. Etchings of a Whaling Cruise, with Notes of 3<tfnurn on the Island of Zanzibar, to which is appended a brief History of the Whale Fishery. Ity J. Russ Browne. Harper & Hruthers. We have read this hook with a great deal of inter est ; with much that is new and instructive, it has [ nrvhing dry or common place about it. The author j makes no pretensions to author-hip, and so he never | gets upon stilts—hut writes always currente calamo. in a free, off hand style, and with a thorough and un failing spirit of life and vigor. His loading motive in writing the book, was to set forth the actual life of seamen on hoard our whaling vessels, —its hard-hips cruelties and oppressions,—to do fjr that branch of sea service what Dana in his “Two \ ears belore the Mast” did, so effectually and so well, for the merchant service. In his preface heslatesthe startling fact that, while the progress of morality, humanity and ordei in the merchant service is marked and steady, there is an equally marked increase of crime in Ihe whale fishery: and the reason of this he believes to be found m the small degree of attention the subject has hitherto ex cited. He gives, tberefore, an accurate and yet most vivid picture of ihe manner ot life which these whale men lead ; and certainly its sufferings, its extortions, is inflictions of cruelty and the insolence and brutali ty to which they are subjected, are enough to enlist the attention and the efforts of philanthropists everywhere. Mr Browne sets all this before the reader, in sketches of the daily incidents and actual occurrences on board a whaling ship, with a vigor and anility seldom equal led. !h his narrative each of hi> fellow sailors has a character as distinct end well defined as that of any character in a first rate novel; arid it is admirably re served froot the beginning to the end. There is a hearty humor in the book, which, though occasional ly it runs into coarseness, is always genuine and genial. One of the very best characieis in Ihe narrative is that of Barry McF—, a ‘down-easier,’ from Maine, who is described as a gawky youth of nineteen, of unruffled good humor and an irresistible aw kwardness and wit. Some of ihe scene g of which he was the hero, are ex ceedingly ludicrous. One of the best is the account ol the hull fight in Ihe Comoro Islands, —in an arena surrounded by vculls with steps of stone leading down to the centre. Mack had taken his seat at the top of the steps, where he could at once have a good view and enjoy a comfortable degree of personal security. “ He seemed highly edified with the sport, and oc casionally gave vent to his satisfaction by shouts of lauglUet and cries of ‘well done, old critter! Look out you darned niggers, or you’ll get slock ! My gosh! j ain’t he savage now I’ Mark wore a red shirt, which now and then attracted the attention of the worried animal. The natives having wrought it to a state of madne-s, began to show signs of fear, and made their escape through a small apperlure in the wall. Mack rolled up hts sleeves, end let his courage boil over in j the most warlike strain. Squiring himself in a pugil j istic attitude, he shouied at the top of his voice, ‘Come i on, if you want a lickin’! I'll give you a Yankee touch, old feller! I'll ornament your ugly picter with a pair of black eyes I Come on, sir! come on !’ ‘The infuriated bull, not at all relishing (he insults of the man with the red shirt, turned short round and made for the steps. ‘Come on 1’ roared Mack; ‘come up here, you blamed ugly looking critter! Darn your orful visage. I’ll show you a thing or two! I ll spoil your nose for you ! I’ll do you bodily damage !’— Snorting and pawing the ground with rage, the bull bellowed and shook his horns, but seemed rather dubi ous about attacking a lire Yankee. Mack capered about ilka 3 madman, and made sundry scientific pass es within a few feel of the arnmal’a head, to the great : amusement of the natives, who cheered and roared 1 with laughter. Why don’t you lay into me!’ said | Mack, kicking at him. ‘ Don’t you sarey my lingo, I you bloody Arab V At this theie was such an oproai lhat the bull, driven to desperation, rushed madly up the steps, bellowing frightfully, ‘Don’t you come so | nigh I’ roared Mack, retreating a little, and stretching forth his long, bony arms, and clenched fists. ‘Don’t you come here, I say ! don't you ! don't you /’ ••The last words were scarcely out of bis mouth, when th furious animal had mounted the abutment. Fearing that the battle might not be fairly conducted in so dangerous a situation. Mack suddenly turned to run, and yelling at the top of his voice, ‘Hold ore, darn you! Don’t you corne here! don't you !’ he attemp ted lo escape. The ball assisted bis progress, by pick ing him up by the nether extremities and pitching him headlong over into the arena. -Ob gosh t oh gosh !’ ’ groaned Mack, floundering about on the ground like a ; gigged dolphin, and endeavoring to get away before j anothersuch onset: *ob jiminy gosh ! I'm spoilt! I’m dead as a whistle!’ Home of the natives rushed in at this critical juncture and rescued him from the further violence of his rough adversary. •• Wc were all enjoying a hearty laugh at Mack's expense when be caine limping up to where we stood, 1 robbing his bones and looking lather used op after bis encounter. Unable to reaiel our cachinalions, be join ed in the laugh and asked us what was the fun. ‘Why,’ said some of the crew, ‘ain’t you dead yell’ ‘Dead !’ cried Mack ; ‘not yet —I ain’t. I’ve only been takin’ a horn. Dead, indeed ! why, ain't I the man wot fit 1 the bull t Ain’t I the man wot pushed the bull off | the bridge /’ ” The book is frrll of ludicrous incidents like this— intermingled with pathetic sketches, vivid descriptions and the reflections of a clear and vigmoua common sense. Very instructive aecounls are given of Zinzi- j bar, Madagascar, and other regions visited during the 1 cruise, and in an appendix ihe author has presented a history of ibe Whale Fishery, with an account of ils present condition, compiled from the most reliable sources. EXPLOSIVE COTTON, The following min Wand interesting aceoant of the discovery recently made in Germany, by which, it is declared, law cotton is rendered moie poweifully ex- ! plosive than gunpowder, is copied from a lellet pub lished in the W ashington Union, from the pen of its European correspondent, under date of FrANKFORT-ON-THE-MaINI, September 30, 1846. One of the most wonderful scientific discoveries of modern times has been exploited here and at Basle, in Switzerland, within the laai few weeks. Professors Baltger of Ihe firmer place, and Scbonbein of the lat ter, simultaneously, by a similar course of experiment ing. have invented a method of preparing raw cotton which will undoubtedly eventuate in Ihe discontinu ance of the use of gunpowder! The article which they prepare has been submitted to many seveieordeals, and its vast superiority for all eaploaive purposes, over gun powder, is acknowledged by Ihe first chemists and mil itary officers in Germany. I can scarcely believe rriy own sense* when I witness an exhibition of its extra ordinary properties. Upon my arrivat in this city I was invitrd by a friend, a distinguished member of ibe German Diet, to dine with him, and not declining his hospitality, t met with and waa presented to Professor Baltger, who it ia but proper to remark, ia distinguished fur hie attain ments, and who has charge of Ihe public laboratory as s chemical lecturer. Before the separation of the par ty, Profcaaor B. look fiom each of hi* waistcoat pock ets a paper containing some raw cotton; a small por tion of that which was in onto he placed upon a sheet of while paper,and near it some gunpowder upon anoth er sheet. He touched them at the same moment with the burning end of a cigar, and with the quickness of the lightning's blast, the cotton waa consumed without smoke or odor or aahet, or even the slightest stain up on tha snow white sheet ol foolscap while Ihe ignition of the gunpowder seemed to be slow, allhough of the beat quahiy.by which the paper was burnt and colored, and Ihe room filled with smoke. He then look a sin Ml quantuy of gunpowder and placing it upon paper, en liiely covered it with prepared cotton from the other paper. Touching ibe cotton with the blaze of a match, it exploded without burning the gunpowder! .Subse quently, at my apartment*, ha exploded cotton upon the palm of my band, without my feeling tbe sentation of heat, such was the remark Alo rapiJity of its igni ting. A short time, it is stated hv the inventors, is only re quired for the preparation of the article, and the pro cess is so exceedingly simple that it can be inanufac tuied by common laborers, and without any danger whatever of combustion. It can be fit for use in a few hours after the cotton is taken from the bale, and with out the aid of machinery ; and it may be thoroughly saturated with water without affecting its properties in juriously. As soon as re-dried, it is again fit for use. There is nothing to apprehend from its sponta neous combustion, nor will it ignite by friction in its transportation, or in the loading of fire-atins. or be come inflamed under a temperature of 2l)U° Ulesius. It will catch fire eitliei from a blaZe or a spark. The fact has been ascertained from repealed experi ments, that the forty-eighth part of an ounce of the prepared cotton will propel a bullet from an American ritle as far and as fast as the twelfth part of an ounce of gunpowder. The sixteenth part of an otince will drive a three quarter ounce ball a distance of sixteen bum’.red paces! Moreover, the barrel naver requires cleaning, forty shots without Intermission have hten made, and without any perceptible accumulation of filth, while the gun was throughout entirely free from heat. In firing a!) pounder, the result was the same in this respect. The experiments in blasting rocks with prepared cotton have also been eminently suc cessful. At Basic a large block of granite, measuring 210 cubic feet, was blown up by four ounces, which could not have been effected with less than two pounds of superior gunpowder. Last week the power of the article was tested at a meeting of the “ British Scientific Association”—an association composed of the most profuundlv learned individuals in Europe—and they rveru amazed wiib what was accomplished. Sir J. Ilcrschcl took occa sion to remark, Professor Schonbetn being present, that “the discovery in (be next generation might arm nnrikind with the wildest powers. The inventor was a Titan who could tear up the rocks, and almost call and >wn the lightnings.” I understand that 135 lbs. of cotton in thb state in which it is found in the hale, when properly prepared, will weigh 165 lbs., and that even here, where the staple is much dearer than in ihe United Slates, the article will cost considerably less than gunpowder.— What the other materials are u-cd in the m mulaclure, will of course remain a secret until patents are secured among the various nations. One lias already been ta ken out for Great Britain ; and the Stales of the Ger manic confederation have, through the Diet, consented to give 100,000 florins merely for the right of preparing it for Ihe army, provided a commission, which has been instituted to test it in every conceivable way, shall re port favotably. This experiment will be made at May ence in a few days. The proportion of the ingredients in gunpowder ne cessarily vary to a considerable degree ; but that of good quality may be composed of 76 parts of nitre, 15 of charcoal, and 9of sulphur. So that e are depend uni upon foreign Countries for eighty fire hundredths of the material used in the manufacture of all the gunpowder we consume /—a fact w hich is not gener ally nor sufficiently known by our countrymen. By the vigilance of that sterling patriot and faithful offi cer, Col. Talcott. of the Ordnance Department, who, year after year, acting upon the principle “in peace prepare for war,” has been accumulating a stock of salt pel re, we are happily prepared with an abundance of the material to carry as through a long and ardaous contest, should we ever be involved in one, with sny nation. But with tfce recent improvement, our depend ence upon the remainder of the wcnld Ceases for the articles essential to the defence or to the prosecution of hostilities; while the dependence of other powers and states upon us increase in the same ratio. More over, the increased production of our chief staple, and the consequent diminution in value, has, for the last few years, scarcely afforded remunerating prices to our planters. Should the prepared cotton supersede gun powder entirely, anew market will be cieated for any redundancy of yield,and an absolute consumption occur Two or three hundted thousand bales, at a moderate calculation, will be burnt up annually. Mr. Grove, a celebrated chemist of England, commenting upon the impoitance of the discovery, says: “It is necessary to mix a combustible substance with another substance which will bring forth a sufficient quantity of oxygen to catch fire, whereby, under a certain temperature, the whole will explode These two substances are con tained in the gunpowder; but even in the best of this article that is manufactured, a part of it remains after eiplmi.m, on which occount fire-arms require cleaning after being discharged of their contents. The inven tion of Professor Schonbein is without this fault, while the power of its explosion is twice as great as that of gunpowder.” DOMESTIC. From the Charleston Evening Melos. J THE COTTON CROP, As there is at present a great diversity of opinion respecting the probable receipts of Colton at the ports in the ensuing season, and also what may be consider ed a fair average trap, we give you below a statement of the growth and receipt of Cotton for the past seven years—from an average of which we have based our calculation that the receipts of Cotton up to 31st of August, ’47, will nrot exceed 1,775,000 bales. The statement is as follows —say The growth of ’39 received in ‘4O. New Orleans, ... 960 000 Mobile, .... 446.000 Florida, .... 133,000 Atlantic, • a 635,00*0 Total as per N. Y. statement. 2,174,000ti.-2,174000 The growth of ‘4O received in ’4l. New Orleans, - - 912 000 Mobile, - • • 318 000 Florida, . a a 90,000 Atlantic, •> • v 400.000 Total a* per N. Y. statement 1.620.000 b. 1,620,6*00 The growth of'4l teceived in ’42. New Orleans, - - 728,000 Mobile, - - v 818 000 Florida, a . a 107 000 Atlantic, . . a 620,000 Total as per N. Y. statement 1,673,000 b. 1,073,000 The growth of ‘42 received in 43. New Orleans, -a 1.060,000 Mobile, a 482000 Florida, a . a 160,000 Atlantic, a a 672,000 Total as per N. Y. shipment, 2,374,000 b. Assumed lor Texas. . 30,000—2,464,800 The growth of’42 received in ’44. New Orleans, . • 832.000 Mobile, .... 468 000 Florida, . a . . 116.000 Atlantic, . . a a 582,000 Total as per N. Y. statement, 2,028,000 b. Assumed fur Texas. 40,000 — 2,668,000 The growth of ‘44 received in ’4&. New Orleans, a . 938,000 Mobile, • • a a 618,000 Florid*, a . a 188.000 Atlantic, a a a 760,000 Total as p*r N Y. statement 2,394.000 b. Assumed for Teiss, 60,000—2,444,000 The growth ol ‘45 received in ‘46. New Orleans, • - 1,037,150 Mobile, • • a 422.000 Florida, a a a a 141,150 | Atlantic, .... 473.200 j Tax at, a a a a 27,000’ • Total is per N. V .statement 2,100,600 b.-2,100,600 - i in The aggregate for seven years, 14,483,500 i One-seventh of which amount we will take for an average—say 2,070,000 ! And we Will ado for supposed increased culture, over two per ceut per annum, • 66,000 Gives us at the average crop, 2,120,000 But for round'numbera we will put down Ibo estimated average at 2,200,000 On reference to the particulars of Atlantic receipts, it will be found that the total for seven years amounts <o 4,032,000 One-seventh of which will give 676,000 so that this amount may b fairly considered the full average product for the Atlantic section, particularly as it is acknowledged (hat inatead of any increase of culture m this region, thero has positively been a de crease. But as we wish to bo liberal, and have no desire to mislead, we will conceje the fair average product of tins region. 600,000 Which leaves as the average product for the Gulf, (Florida and Texas included,) the figure of 1,544,000. llut we will be liberal a gain, and place the latter average at— -1.600,000 From which deduct what is con sidered a low estimate of the injury done—say 25 per cent. 400,000-1,200,000 Leaving for the maximum receipts for ’46 and'47, 1,800,000 Willi all due deference to the opinion of othets, who perhaps may be possessed of more reliable information, we feel much confidence in making the fullowtng es timate. It ia founded on information which we have obtained, and which wo consider honesl and candid.— We therefore estimate that the receipts will not exceed the amount At Atlantic porta, - * 600,000 New Orleans and Texas, - • 725.000 Mobile, 325.000 Florida, s 125.000 j-1,775,000 The above estimate sos New Orleans is based on the point that there has not been a decrease in the culture of (Jetton in Louisiana, during the past year, But Mr. Hemy of Mobil , in Ins Circular, asserts on the most rebdhle authority that labour sufficient for the production of lUO.OOt] bales Os Colton has been this year diverted to the culture of Sugar. If such is the case, and wc have Underrated the injury done to the crops in that section, (which would not surprise tls,) some of our friends will ones be right in regard to the staple, and sec the figure of I2J cents opposite the quotation of •• Fair.” OBSERVER; Charleston, October 58, 1846. * We very much doubt the increase iff tile Ctilthre of Cotton equal to two per cent per annum, in the last seven years. j- Ijinie too email a quantity for consumption, if any portion is to be used in lieu ofGunpowder, Correspondence of the Savannah Republican. COLUMBUS, OCT. 28. 1846. Centl'men .- When I was in Savannah last month. I promised you that I would address you whenever 1 had any thing of importance to communicate, touch ing the Muscogoe Hailroad. 1 was so much discour aged at my want of success in negotiating with Ihe Macon and Western Hailroad, and the Central Kail road. for encouragement to the enterprise, that I made but little effort when I was in New York, to eflecl any thing beneficial. But 1 am most happy to say, that since my return here, I find every man in this com munity ready to do his duty in Ihe premises, and a spiiit of enthusiasm prevailing, which will carry the work through with as rfruth certainty as atly tuture event can he reckoned upon. 1 consider the question of builJmg a road to connect Columbus with the At lantic, as settled. Whether we shall connect with At lanta, Barnesville, or Macon, remains to be determin ed, and will depend mainly upon youi people. If Sa vannah will lend us the strength which She has to spare, Only so far as a comprehensive View of her in terest Wilt dictate, we shall finish (tie Itoad in lime to throw into her lap, seventy-five thousand equate bales of Colton, of the Crop of 1848, made in Western Georgia, and Eastern Alabama. This will be only the commencement of anew trade that will continue to increase until we shall double it, and that too Within five years after the Koad shall have gone into opera tion. This you may rely upon—it is no idle thought of a visionary mmd, but is a conclusion drawn from an accurate knowledge of out resources and true in terests, and will most assuredly be verified if the peace of the world should be undisturbed, rival roads should not spring up to divert the course of trade, and the af fairs of the Koad should be administered with wisdom, economy and forecast. A crisis in the affairs of Sa vannah is at hand, and it is lime for her citizens to arouse themselves to secute the prize which She has tang so noblv and so zealously contended for. The trade of the Gulf of Mexico is now within her reach, and she need add but one more dollar to each six that she lias expended, to reach the goal which ahe slatted for, under the auspices of her honorable, highminded, energetic and untiring GoanoN. Will she fail in the eleventh hour 1 Will .-he faulter when she has but one more bound to makel I will conclude by the assurance that we are determined to have a wedding between the Gulf and the Atlantic, and shall under take to make the match through Savannah if we can, or through Charleston if we must. Your*, J. G. WINTER. It is said, that the Mr. Myers connected with the late tragedy at Richmond, is worth $500,000, and that Mr. Hoyt was worib $150,000, which he had made in selling lottery tickets. Luckt Ttpo.—Capt. dames M. ScoficlJ, Editor of the New London Morning Mtar, has recently become sole heir, by the death of a bachelor uncle, to an estate in the northern part of Scotland, said to he worth XT -80.000. The crop of Tndian Corn in the West, for 1846, will be more than 5000,000,000 of fuishels. ‘i he Crop of Wheat will exceed 140.000.000 of bushels, which Would produce equal to 28,000,000 barrels of flour. Psfsxvt To lira. T*tloh.—A splendid silver pitcher, costing S2OO, has been manufactured in Phil adelphia for several citizens of Louisville, who purpose presenting it to Gen. Tayler. GOVERNMENT SHINPLASTER.—The Polk and Walker Administration has signalized itself by its furious war against paper money, and ils zeal for an exclusive metallic correnry. One of ns most recent demonstrations rn favor of the latter, has nraile its ap pearance in s t. Louis, in the shape of the following Government Shinplaster: j An. d34lv ‘War War: ant, JYo, 4134. 8-69 ITufS. Tri •anury of the United SlHien, VV'Mfdimgton, vMlli April, 1846. At |v to Edwards & France, or order. SIXTY CENTS. W. Sf.i.rfn. Treasurer of the U. ff. N0.22tf1. Registered 2hh April, 1836. ..ss—• OO CIS. 11. H. Gillet. Register ol Treasury. Itank of Missouri, nt St. Louis Mo. What a conclusive evidence of the hypocrisy es Lufocoism I— N. O. Tropic. orounTT PEAS. The Albany (tieo.) Patriot of 28lh hit. saygr—A gentleman residing near this place, mfuims us that he lias dbg and measured a sufficient quantity of his Ground Peas to ascertain that they will average one hundred and five bushels to the acre I Thelind plant ed is ordinary pino lurid, on which was put s little ma nure. The labor bestowed was not more than would be necessary to pftint ind lend the same ground m cotton. The nutritious ryialities of the Ground Pea ar gen erally known. They are said, by those who have inde the experiment, to be superior to corn for fatten ing hogs, and for that purpose they are raised and fed with less trouble than any other crop. They need not he gathered, but will remain good in the ground until Match or April.-—During six months, from the first of Ociobfer to the first of April, hogs may be turned into a field of ground peas and’ kept as lat as though they hail free access to a crib of Corn. What farmer in , Georgia will hereafter buy Western pork 1 • Hole to do it.— The ladtes are very fond of keeping the door knobs, spoons, plate, &c„ in brilliant older. Now, if instead of water and chalk, and such prepara tions, ladies will use csrnphine oil and rotten stone, a fir brighter, more durable, and quick polish Can be ob tained, than in any other way. Camphine is the ar ticle used sos producing the exquisite polish of the Daguerreotype plates, and nothing has cvet been found to equal it. ATTACK ON VERA CRUZ—A Washington letter published in the Philadelphia American says— J A well authenticated report is prevalent here, that s Cabinet Council has decided upon art immediate attack upon Vera Crux by s combined movement of oUr ar my and naval forces. It is farther stated that deapatch es to this effect are already on their way. NAVAIm—It it> now atited that Commodore Stf w xbtis To have command of the laige forge about to b r 1 concentrate J in tba Gulf of Mexico preparatory to gs; attack on the Castle of San Juan da Ulloa. The !‘jd gun-ship Pennsylvania, now being fitted out foi tbe service at the Gosport Navy Yard, is to joiti the Squad ton. The steamer Vixen aud Spitfire, recently bought by the U. 8. Government and sent to the Gulf of Mexico, are said to be complete failures, not being able to make more than eight miles per hour with full steam. BLOCKADE IN THE PACIFIC.—TiIe follow, ing late mid interesting intelligence has been received by the N. Y. Journal ut Commerce, in a letter dated Tceic, Sept. 12, 1846. Com. Stockton has declared the whole of the Coast of Metieo in the Pacific in a state of blockade. Com modore Stockton lias established himself Governor in the Capital of Upper California, it is reported that the ports of Lower California are to be taken posses sion of, and San Bias made a rendezvous fur the squad ron and their prizes. The Oyane arrived off San Bias on the 2d of this month and sent the notification of the blockade to the authorities. She ia cruising oil the Coast, occasionally anchors in the bay, and bus seized a couple ol coast lug vessels. Another vessel hasalsosiiived nil Mnzat- I ltd. aud has cut out of that harbour a coasting vessel. I BLOCKADE OF THE MEXICAN PORTS ON THE PACIFIC. COM. STOCK I ON'S PROCLAM ATION. To all Whom it may concern. —l, J. K. Stockton. Commodore and Commander in-Chief of the United S'ates Naval forces in the Pacific Ocean, and Govern- I or and Commander-in Cliiel of the Territory of Cali- I fornia, do, b_k the authority of the President and Con gress of the United States of Noith America, hereby declare all the ports, harbors, bays, outlets and inlets I on the Wt Coast of Mexico, South ufSau Biego. to be ! in a state of vigorous blockade, which will be made ab solute except aguinst armed vessels of neutral nations. All neutral merchant vessels found in any of the bays and harbors on said Coast on the arrival of the blockading force, will tie allowed twenty days to leave. Given under my hand and seal, this nineteenth day of August, A. D. one thousand eighteen hundred and forty-ail at l!ie Government House in the “Cuidad be las Angeles,” the Caplet us California. [Signed] J. R. STOCKTON. Commodore and Commander-in-Chief of the Naval Forces of the U; S. in Ihe Pacific Ocean, and Govern or and Commauder-in Chief of Ihe Tertitory of Cali fornia. From the llukinwe American. ‘the Slare C use in New York. —We slated a few I days ago Hist the captain of the Brig Mobile, at New York trom Savannah, bad discoevered on board of bis vessel a short time before los arrival at New York, a | fugitive slave, the property of Mr. Charles Chapman, f of Savannuh ; and lliat (be slave had been brought lie- ] fore (he Coort of Over und Terminer, on a writ of ha- 1 beat c,rpus, sued out by patties seeking his liberation. 1 Alter an argument it! the case, which lasted several f days, Judge Edmonds on Tuesday morning announced ! the opinion of the majority of the Court, and ordered i the fugitive to be discharged from eus ody. The K, Y, Journal of Commerce ssys: Judge Edmonds took the ground that tbe captain of the -Mobile” could not be viewed as in any sense the j ownef of the slave, oi the agent or attorney of such ] owner ; that the arrest and imprisonment was without I authority, even Under the faWs of Georgia, becsa.e I made without the jurisdiction off Georgia; that if re I garded as an arrest under the laws of New York, while 1 the Constitutionality of that law was very questionable, 1 yet the return Showed nothing of a purpose on the part I of the respondent to pursue the Course prescribed by I that law, aud therefore it could irot be pleaded in jus- I tilicauon of confinement; that the Act of ‘93 by Con- I gross, even as set forth in the cage of Prigly, evidently I limned the recovery of the slave to measuies in duel process us law, certainly to such as were in no wrtl violative of the public pace, and finally that the act oil tbe master in this case being wholly unauthorized, the I boy must de discharged. As the Judge concluded his I decision, the negro was brought into the court rontnl (which WdS densely crowded, even at an earlv bout,) I froth which he retired amid the rejoicings of tbe peo- B pie of color, and well guarded by bis friends. I It is rumored that efforts are now making to recaps I ture the boy under a warrant of some sort, with thatl view, possibly, of detaining him until his master ran* be informed of hid place, add adopt measuies for hifl recovery. Or, the other hand, there seems to be a very I extensive purpose to aid his escape. I Who can tell us for the benefit of a curious when the present flag of the United States— th® glorious Slurs and Stripes—Was first designed, brfl whom, and at what time n was officially accepted an® adopted as our national emblem 1 As Solomon Swum says, “We want to know !”— Tunes. ] Ifour neighbor will refer to the proceedings of Cos® gress, dune 14,1777, he will find it was then si-d there— I tiesolied, That the flag of the thirteen Unite® States he Thirteen Stripes, alternate red and white® that the Union be Thirteen Siars, white in a blue fin® representing anew constellation.” 8 This resolution may be found in’ the volume of lit® Journals of the Revolutionary Congress for the yet® 1777, and in the first volume of Bioren’s edition Laws of tbe United States, page 678.— N.r1h Amfflfl can. 8 In this coftnectiun wi beg Marie to append a descrip® lion of the first American Flag, taken from the /,w® dun Chronicle of July 26th, 1776: I “ The colors of the A men an Fleet, have a sink® With thirteen laities, the fourteenth budding. in the attitude of going to strike, with this motto, •Min® tread on me.” It is a rule in heraldry, that toe wo-n® properties of the animal, in the crest borne shill -® considered, and the base ones cannot be intended. B ••The ancients accounted th- snake or a serpent itß emblem of Wi-dorn, and in certain faiiludes ol duraiior. The Rattle Suak is properly a represents!!'® of America, an this animal is found in no other part® the world. The eye ot this creature excels in hrigb® ness most of any other aninvil—she has no ercliJ® and is, therefore, an emblem of vigilance. —She begins arr attack, nor ever Surrender* —she is,therefor® an emblem of magiianim ly and true courage. Win® injured, or in danger ot being injured, she never weiiniM Until she has given notice to her enemies of their ger. No other of her kirtd 6bows so much geoerowtjM When disturbed and in peace, she docs not appeal ® he furnished with weapons of any Wind— they are M tent in the roof of the month • and efen When ed for detente, appear to those who are not with her, to be weak and Coritentptible, yet her woond® however small, are decisive and I’alat. She i* s-'lita® and associates with her kind only when it isneefs**® for tlieir preservation. Her poison hi at once an crM sary means of digesting her food, and certain dealie® lion to her enedries. The power of fascination, l® uted to her, by s generous conatruclion, resemble* M nierica. T hose who look steadily on her *rCiMi* l "® and voluntarily advance towards her, and haciint ‘”Tu I p-pprnarhed. never leave her. She i beautiful in . and her beauty increasra with her age. Ner blue, and lurked a- the lightning,” B MASTODON COTTON. I A fiend has lurnithed u with tome dstads on ■ subject of the culture of this article, Which we gtw V Some time last Winter, Mr. A. *•**<*▼• <f A u ß“ Geo., obtained some of the seed of the 0,1,0 ■ ton from the gentleman who first introdmei ‘ 1 ■ cty into the United Stales. He planted it [■ of .oils, SO a. .0 test which would ta be. •£' * J it; and at a variety of distances, both betwe ]■ and the plants in the row. I hat wh' l • jB heal, was planted in rows six feet •P ,rt |in ,B between esch plant. This portion t wl ,B of the City of Augusta, ind may b *' orr T w „,|,® which had been a long lime cultivated. glb B ly manured. The Cotton was top|>< Angikin, and vVben out informant saw i , |jr ® it stood st an average of six <W ***'” /j >B ,| > 1 with its branches pretty Gwaly oc . ’ ng o.wi® luxuriunt in ils appearance; the sa - cj(Cl) ® with holla measuring horn 4j to 6j me „ot I® ference. The Caterpillar attacked crop about the 20th of September, .tuppm* , ol it. leave. ; snd about the ..me perforated all thn bolls which were “ Our informant think, over one-lourth ot tb 11 lost in this way. . „ c „m ni< '® The picking of th. C.llon h.w not lh ,J| yet; but enougb ha* been gather .anion, that th. yield will be asm Tt. qa.UtJ 19 Dc * Bt I