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rniTEO ASfl published weekly, by WM . B. II A BRISO \ . CITY PRINTER. EPIGRAM. " Maria's liku a clock, they say, Unconscious of her beauty , Fhe regulates the live-long day, Exact in every duty. U this be true, such self-command, Such well-directed powers, O I may her little minute hand Become a hand of ours The Pillsii' ol Suit. In his Narrative of die late Expedition to the Dead Sea, Montague gives the ful- j lowing account, under date of April 20th, : IS4B, of the Pillar of Salt on the Shores of the Dead Sea, generally considered as a monument to perpetuate the punish ment of Lot’s wife for her disobedience He says : —*• On pulling round the shores of the sea we saw an. immense column, rounded and turret-shaped, facing towards the south-east. This, we were told by our Arabs, was the Pillar of Salt in which Lot’s wife was encased at the overthrow of Sodom. With some difficulty we land ed here,and our esteemed commander and l)r. Anderson obtained specimens from it, and Mr. Dale took a sketch of i’. Out' boat’s crew landed also, and their curiosi ty was gratified by their gathering speci mens, some from its summit, and others from its base. It was measured and found to he sixty feet in height and forty feet iti circumference. We cannot suppose that Lot’s wife a person so large that her di mensions equalled those of this column Many think the statue of Lot’s wife was equal to the pillar of salt which the Bible speaks of. Let the pillar be where it may, and whatever be its size, they will not pro bably credit that this is the pillar. Their preconceived notions, having much to do with the matter, they would have every body think that she was at once transform ed into a column of very fine grained, beau tifully white 6alt, about five feet or a few inches more in hoight, and in circumfer ence that of a common sized person of the nineteenth century, lie that as it may, no two minds have, perhaps, formed ex actly the same opinion on this matter who have not visited the spot. But here we are, around this immense column, and we find that it is really of solid rock salt—one mass of crystallization. It is in the vicin ity which is pointed out in the Bible in re lation to the matter in question, and it ap pears to be the only one of its kind here. And the Arabs of the district to whom this pillar is pointed out, declare it to be that of Lot’s wife—the identical pillar of salt to which the Bible has reference—the tra dition having been banded down from each succeeding generation to their children, as Americans will hand down to succeed- in" generations the tradition of Bunker’s Hill Monument, in Boston. My own opin ion of tho matter is, that Lot’s wife having lingered behind, in disobedience to the express command of God, given in order to insure her safety, that while lingering she became overwhelmed in the descend ing fluid, and formed the model or founda tion of this extraordinary column. If it bad been produced by t common, by natu ral causes, it is but right to suppose that others might be found of a similar descrip tion. One is scarcely able to abandon the idea that it stands here as a lasting memo rial of God’s punishing a most deliberate sin committed at a time when he was about to show distinguishing regard for the very person. “We carefully brought away our spe cimens, intending to show them to our friends in America, when we shall have the good fortune to arrive there, and talk with them on the subject. This end of the sea is very shallow, and its waters more dense, mofe salt than where (hey are of greater depth ; here it is from one to five feet in depth. We now leave this “Pillar of Salt,” and return to our boats richly la den with specimens from it. We cross the sea, and obtain soundings on our way. We had nearly reached the opposite side when anew danger assailed us. We had braved all the dangers of the Jordan, in its stream and on its banks, and the pecu liar storms on the Dead Sea, and now a specimen of the dangers to which man is subject visits us. Tim fearful, scorching sirocco rages around, threatening us with suffocation and blindness, and causing al most insupportable thirst. The “fiery at mosphere" seems as though it would doom us to the very fate of the unfortunate citi zens who now lie cngulphed below our boats; but we fearlessly pulled away un til, coming to a place called Meserab, we land amidst the raging heat of the wind and there encamp for the t ight. ” From the Republic Cuba and its Hesonrces. This beautiful island, one of the ear liest discoveries of the great admiral, has ! been known to Europe since 1492, and borne successively the names of Juana, Fernandina, Santiago, and Are Maria, and lias found refuge fro hi this contusion of ti. ! ties in the aboriginal appellation. The most westerly of the Antilles, it equals in j area that of all the other West Indies to-1 gether, and is one of the large islands i which approaches nea'est the North A merican Continent, one hundred and thirty miles, from which, an eminent Cuban na turlist maintains, by some great convul sion of nature at no very remote day, it lias been separated. The length of the island, which extends nearly east and west, from the 74 deg., to 85 deg., west cf Green wich, is about six hundred miles, audits average breadth is about one hundred— between the 20th and 25th parallels of north latitude. It is blessed with the pro digal fertillity of tropical climates, while the elevation ofils mountains permits the productions of colder climates to thrive This lofty range of mountains, extending from Cape San Antonio tothePunta* tie Maysi, divides the island into two equal portions, and on its declivities and in its valleys are regions as fertile and as health ful as any in die world. Rising to the height of 8500 feet, it contains the sources of various streams which abound with peculiar and delicious fish, and which bring down no small portion of gold dust, once esteemed of importance ; but which now is neglected because the labor necessary to collect it, if expended in the cultivation of the soil, would yeld thiice the return. The mountains also abound in other mineral wealth, among which are copper, iron, and the magnetic stone. Sil ver is al.so found. The most valuable of these mines, however, are those of copper which, since the completion of a portion of an elaborate system of railroads, one liuncred and ninety five miles of which are now in operation, have proved most profitable investments. Principally iti the hands of foreign capitalists, they em ploy many thousand miners, the wants of whom provide, for the small planters, that greatest of all protections and encourage ments, a home market. Marble and coal are also known to exist in inexhaustible quantities,and the value of the latter is daily becoming more appar ent from the rapid consumption of wood by the immense azitearias or sugar es tates of the island. This coal, exceedingly bituminous, is evidently an outcrop of the great asphaltum beds which, in more than one of the Antilles, evince themselves in the lakes of mineral tar. It is now em ployed in the gas-works of the city of Ha vana, and has been found of great purity and good quality. The Island abounds in magnificent har bors, one of which, that of Habana—ea rned, tradition says, from an Indian god dess of that name, a statue of whom is pla ced over more than one of the gates of the city—is probably the best in the world. With a narrow entrance, expanding into a magnificent bay, it is capable of enclosing the navy of the world, and from the eaili est. day has been so carefully fortified as to be considered impregnable. Neither | history nor scrutiny sustain this idea, for, I in the middle of the eighteenth century,an ! expedition under the orders of the British Admiral Vernon, composed of a small j force of royal marines and a few regiments Jof coh-nial troops, landed u few miles be -11,..„ „ii ,t,„ i’"” '■•'j' “■* —... ... i eluding the Moro, it carried without un usual difficulty. The new art of war, with its immense batteries, steam and rockets, would certainly reduce the place to necessity in a very short time. Matan zas, Trinidad, Sant lag<>, Cienfuegos, and Puerto lusconthdo are also excellent har bors, with great natural facilities for ini; provements and fortifications. The climate is, when we consider the latitude, salubrious, the year being divided into a dry and a wet season. The war mest portion of the year is July and August, when the mean temperature of each day i3 about Sl* Fahreinheit. The coldest is in December, when the mercury ranges at about 50°, except when the wind known as cl norte blows, during which the instrument shows a rapid de clension. So fertile a soil is not known to exist in any other portion of the globe. It has been known to produce three crops a year, and in ordinary seasons two may be relied on. The profusion of its flora, the variety of its forests ate unsurpassed ; while the multitude of its climbing shrubs give a lux uriant richness .to its scenery, which con tributes to make it one of the most fasci nating countries in the world. Nowhere is life so easily supported, and is man so delicately nurtured. In addition to the plantain, the yuca of two varieties, the po tato, yam, Indian corn, rice, melons, ches nut, cocoanut, pineapple, amana, or cus tard-apple, medlar, banana, orange,lemon, sitadock, and lime abound. The growth of the forests comprise the mahogany tree, cedar, liguumvitse, various kinds of ebony, the noble palm tree, and numerous woods for building. On this island, capable of supporting in opulence a population equal to that of Spain, arc strewn less than a million and a half of men, of which six or seven bun dred thousand are white, two hundred thousand are free negroes, mulattoes, and zambos, while the rest are slaves. It is supposed that but two-fifths of the isl and is cultivated, the rest being wilder ness, uninhabited,and dispoiled.by ruth'ess Spanish avarice, of the glorious forest trees which struck the early navigators with so much amazement. The chief riches of the island result from its exports which consist of sugar, coffee,tobacco, wax, cocoa, molasses, lion cy, rum, maize, See. The first of these is infinitely the most important, and is pro bably the only one which is regularly in creasing, in spite of the changeable sea sons, hurricanes, and the immence direct and indirect taxation to which the planters are subject. The great increase may be estimated from the fact that in 1842, Gl7, 648 boxes were exported ; and in' 1547, 1,284,811. The exports for the last fis cal year ending with November were 1,216,9i7. Os other articles, during the same time, were exported 708,941 urrobas (25 lbs.) of coffee, 205,559 bogheads of molasses, 11,909 pipes cf rum, 4 647,737 p uiiils of tobacco, 1 11,239 boxes (thoit j sands) of segars, and 561,826 quintals of !copper ore. The cultivation of coffee has nearly been destroyed. Nothing shows the great de cline of the trade more than the fact that in 1837, 2,233,567 arrobas were exported, while in IS4S there were only 708,591. The consequence is, that a great portion of the cuj'ctal are now abandoned, and the land appropriated to grazing, sugar es tites, or lice plantations. The tobacco crop rapidly increases, and will as long as the passion for Havana and Princide se gars shall last. The plant is peculiarly different from our own, ma'uring in less time, and the soil is able always to bring two crops per annum. In 1842 the crop was 5,942,833 lbs. in 1817 it rose to more than 9,000,000. That of 1848 was some what diminished by a season unusually un propitious, and by hurricanes. The following table shows that there has been a gradual increase of exports for many vears, and of consequent prosperity: Yearly av. of Increase Per centage imports and during 5 of increase, exports. years. 182!) to 1832 $30,1)20,111 1853 to 1836 36,314,956 $5,305,745 14 9 per ci. 1838 to 1842 49,073,615 13,950,659 25.9 “ 1843 to 1847 50,149,797 1,076,182 2.1 “ The number of arrivals during 1847, at its ports, was 3,740, and the number of clearances 3,346. The amount of Amer ican tonnage employed in trade with it is 476,773 tons. Such are the resources cf Cuba, and from them it is customary to conclude that the island has enjoyed a paternal govern ment and enlightened care from the crown of Spain. Such, is not, however the cas£; for, of all countries iu the world, it is pro bable the most and worst governed. All power irt the hands of two officers, the captain general, civil and military gover nor, and the intendente, responsible di rectly to the Spanish crown, who has charge of the fiscal affairs and of commerce —crowds of greedy Spaniards in every employment—an at my of twenty thous and men quartered on a population of 1,- 500,000 —vexatious taxes, infringements unnatural right, monopolies of every thing, unblushing bribery, flagrant corruption, constant espionage, and an ecclesiastical system behind that of England in the times of the Tudors, are its principal features. Rigid censorship of the press, a want of all provision for education, and a degrad ed and worthless nobility, attest the at tention of every stranger, and make him wonder how any race intelligent as are the Cuban Creoles, can remain quiet and see ilteir beautiful island doing nothing for it self, and wasting its tresures upon a peo ple which piize it only as a means of sup posing sloth and want of energy. This wretched state of affairs points to a reac tion, but when it comes, Cuba, with her population of 1.500,000. and her immense resources, must win her own freedom, or,if she do not, will deserve to beenslaved. Thundering Si-ring —One ofthe most remarkable natural curiousities in the vi cinity of Mobile is what is called the “Thundering Spring,” about twelve miles from the city. The country is considera bly elevated above the level of the rivers, and is mainly of sandy formation. The spring, or l ather its embonchere is appar ently about three or four feet in diameter and the fluid lias an uncertain motion, like the ebullitions on the surface of boiling water —throwing up w ith it a pure white sand. The remarkable characteristics of it are a low, rumbling, irregular noise exactly like distant thunder, and a tremu lous nervous motion ofthe earth, which is also irregular. The ground for many yards in the vicinity of the spring is con s'antly shaking in this way, leaving an im pression of insecurity and extensive hol lows beneath the surface. The water issues from the side of a declevity. which, presents the appearance for some distance of having sunk several feet below the ori ginal surface.—The volume of water that issues from it is not so great as one would supose without examining the stream as it runs off. 'Fhe deception originates in the paroxvsms of the spring, which casts up huge bubbles mixed with sand that falls back into the basin, without being carried oil'. There has been a good deal of Phil osophy uttered on this subject by the nu merous visitors ofthe place, but none that seems to give a very clear phenomenon. If someone had curiosity enough to open a sluice so as to let the sand that is thrown up bo floated off from the source, in a very short time we should have the cause ex posed to the eye. That, however, would destroy the charm of the place, and put an end to many pleasant parties which con gregate there itt the summer months. We have no doubt that the surface ofthe Spring has been much higher than it is at present, and that it has sunk several feet, i’ torn the rumbling, sullen noise, too, there are in all probability great hallows beneath the surface to fall many feet further. 1 lie spring certainly is a curiosity worth visiting. It furnishes, we itn-igin, a very excellent notion ol an earhquake in a small way. —Mobile IL raid. MACON , G SATURDAY MORNING, BETT. 1,1849. ] U*At the Supreme Court recently held at Decatur, the proceedings in the case of Reese, were sustained, and we presume he will be hung on Friday next, according to the sentence —al- though there seems to be some doubt with re gard to its legality, with somo of the lawyers, in consequence of the appeal to the Supreme Court, which having stayed the proceedings, it is thought anew sentence in open court is neces sary to place the case in its former position.— This we believe is the first case of the kind tint has occurred since the organization of the Court. We know nothing about the legal question involved, but presume the execu tion will take place at the time specified in the original sentence. In thecaseoftho City Council of Macpn vs. the Railroad Companies the judgment of the Court below has been reversed, consequently the City Council have the right to levy tolls upon the cotton transferred over the Bridge by the Rail Road Companies. Acquitted. —The boy I.kroy, mentioned in our last as having been arrested on the charge of arson, was arraigned before the Justices of the Inferior Court fur trial on Wednesday morning, and upon a careful investigation of the matter, which lasted until Thursday night, after an ab sence of about ten minutes the Jury returned a verdict of “Not Guilty.” Mass Meeting of the Sons of Temperance. —A grand jubilee of the Sons of Temperance will be hold in this city on the 24th of October next, at which time an address will bn delivered by the Rev. Dr. A. Means, of Oxford ; and a Prize Banner wiil be presented to that Division having the largest number in procession, in pro portion to their number of Members, and the distance and convenience of travel. All are in vited to come Abduction.— Our rearlersare apprised of the recent abduction ufßr.v from New Orleans, and the snbseqent implication oftho Spanish Consul at New Orleans, who has been held to bail at that city to account for the offence. It appears that since Rev’s return to Cuba our Consul has demanded hint from the Captain General there, to which the latter replies in the conclusion of his letter us follows : “I conclude then by informing you that I find no means of acceding to your request; and if, notwithstanding what 1 have stated above, you think that it is your duty to insist upon your de mand,you must recur to your Government,which no doubt will know how to give, through regular means, a proper turn to the question.” It is now pretty certain that Rev has been carried to Cuba where he is detained by the au thorities, and we hope our Government will see that ho be again placed under the protection of our laws, whence he has been clandestinely ta ken arid carried beyond the jurisdiction of the United States. P. S. Since the above was in type we have | received in the Charleston Courier, the follow ! ing account of the return of Rev, transmitted by Telegraph from New Orleans at 4 o’clock, P. M. on the 28th lilt. “The brig Salvadorti has arrived at this port, in eight days from Havana, having on board as a passenger , Rev, the abducted Spaniard. Rev, we are informed, was given up by the Captain-General, without any formal demand having been made for him. lie was sent home by the American Consul. Since his arrival, ho has given testimony that lie was abducted. It has been ordered that he should give bail to appear at the trial of the Spanish Consul. The Seventh Census. —The Washington Republic says : “Two circulars are now bein': distributed throughout the United States, for the purpose of eliciting information, to render per fect as possible the result of the arrangements for taking the censut of 1850. One of these calls for such information as will enable the Census Board to arrive at the most proper enumeration of subjects to be embraced in their report ; and and the other for suggestions as to the possibili ty of abandoning, in the several States, questions which have no practical bearing in their respec tive resources. The Secretary, under the direc tion of the Board, is now busily engaged in the preliminary arrangements for this important la bor, and it is most desirable that replies should be sent on at as early a date ns possible. A1 communications should be addressed, “ Depart ment of State—Census, Washington, D. C. ” Gold DdLi.AU. —The Dahlonega Watchman says that this beautiful coin authorized by the last session ofCongrcss has commenced issuiua: from the U. S. Mint at that place. Georgia. Railroad Stock.— The Augusta Chronicle and Sentinel says that a sale of this stock was made a few duys since at S9O per share for the new stock, which is equivalent to $132 59 for the old stock. More (join.—A new California is said to have been discovered in Venezuela. A private correspondent says that this new El Dorado is found in the same place ofthat of Manoa, so long sought for by Sir Walter Raleigh. It has recently been discovered by a French physician named Plassard, who exhibited to the author of the correspondence many specimens ofthe gold found there. The tradition among the Indians goes to show the existence of an abundance of the metal in that part of the republic of Vene zuela. [FP“La Palanga,” a paper of the city of Mex ico, ol the 11 tb inst. has the following in regard to tho movements of the body of men now encam ped on Round Island : “YVo learn from a posi tive and authentic source that some six hundred men, ofthe most turbulent class in New-Orleans, are being enlisted w ith the ostensible object of proceeding to Yucatan to vindicate the honor of the volunteers expelled thence by Serior Bartach ano for bad behavious ; but in reality, these six hundred reprobates will direct their movement;, to Tampico to favor the projected erection of the republic ofSierra Mndre " Latest from Europe. The Telegraph being out of order at the North we are not advised of the arrival of the steamer of the 18th. We give the following extracts from the accounts of the lUh ult., up to which time every department of trade was ill a healthy state at Liverpool. The crops give good promise. Money abundant, and prices advancing. Con sols for money and account closed at 92$ to 93. The amount of Bullion in the Bank of England is estimated at fourteen and a half million ster ling. There was a good demand for Cotton and Woollen Goods in the manufacturing district of England- The English papers are filled with accounts of the enthusiastic reception of the Queen in Ire land. The Cholera is on the increase in London. The Minister of Finauce in his report to the Assembly, states that the deficiency in the trea sury on the Ist of next January will be 550,0(i0,- 000 francs and the estimated deficiency for the next year is put down at 320,000,000 francs. President Bonapart denies any desire to change the present Government. Gen. Kottslan is appointed Commnnder-in- Cltief of the French army in Italy, in the place of Gen. Oudinot. The Pope’s Commissioners have arrived at Rome,and have dissolved the whole army, even those who have been faithful to the Pope The Pope still refuses to return to Rome. The French troops stationed there are said to be very sickly. Venice still holds out. It is said that three American vessels had arrived with provisions for the besieged. The news continues favorable tothelln uga rians. They still occupy the line of Skeine. It is reported that Bern, with 40,000 men, had com pletely beaten the Russian force of 60,000 in Transylvania, and that he had taken Ilertnan stadt. It was also reported that Klupka, the Hungarian General,attacked and captured Raab and afterwards seized a large quantity of provi sions and munitions of war, and fell back to Co morn. There was an active demand for Cotton in the Liverpool market during the week ending the 11th inst. in consequence of a large attendance of the trade, who purchased freely. Holders were not disposed to take previous prices, and buyers had to pay an $ to (and advance on Ameri can descriptions. The following are given as the official quotations for Cotton—Fair Upland 5.( ; Fair Mobile s|; Fair Orleans 5$ The sales of the week are estimated at 78,000 bales, 24,000 of which were taken on speculation. About 6,- 000 bales taken for export. At Liverpool on the lltli, fair Orleans Cotti n quoted at 5.Jd. There were sold during the week, 13,000 bales Upland, 8,500 Mobile, and 37,500 Orleans. The stock on hand isCG3,(OO bales, of which 508,000 are American. Revival. —The Griffin Jeffersonian of the 31th ult. says : “This is the eighth week, we think, of the religious revival at Griffin, and the work is still going on. Up to Tuesday night in clusive, one hundred and thirty-seven whites had recently joined the different Churches.” Nasiivillf. Railroad. —The New York Eve ning Post states that a negotiation has been effec ted in that city, by which $290,000, in bonds of Nashvillo, Tennessee, have been bought at 885 These bonds bear 6 per cent interest, and were issued to the Nashville and Chattanooga Railroad as subscription stock. The transaction in con nected with a purchase of iron. New Cotton. —Charleston Mercury of 27th ult., says the first bale of new cotton was re ceived in this city on Friday last hv Railroad, from Messrs. Dunbar and Garmany of Hamburg, and was consigned to Messrs. Sims and Dulin. It was grown by Col. Bell, of Edgefield District and was gathered from a field of seventy acres, in which, we learn, at tho same period last sea son, more than thirty, bales had been picked. It was of strictly fair quality, and sold for 11 cents, the same that was paid for it at Hamburg. The Milledgeville Recorder says : —Mr. Isaac Blount, of Hancock, sold in our market on the 22d inst!, the first bag of new cotton that has boon brought to it this year. The quality was fair. It was purchased by the Milledgeville Manufacturing Company at 94 cents. The Griffin papers state that two bales were brought there on the 27th and 29th ult. from Up son and Henry-counties, and sold for 10 cents. O’ The receipts of the New-York Custom House are said to be unusually large at the pre sent time, reaching in the neighborhood of one million a week. Wednesday 22d tilt, was the heaviest day ever know in the custom-house an nals; the deposits in the cashier's office reach ing two hundred and fifty thousand dollars, an amount which exceeds, by twenty thonsand dol lars, the receipts of any previous day. The Purchase cf Cuba. —The Washing ton correspondent of the Boston Allas says it will be the special duty of the new minister to the Court of Madrid, General Barringer, to pro cure a reduction of the enormous duties to which the produce of the United States is subjected when imported into Cuba, adding that the late administration made n standing offer to the SpanishGovernmcnt of $100,000,000 for the Is land of Cuba, hut that this offer has been or will be withdrawn by the present administration. ID* Elections for the next Congress are yet to be held in Mississippi, Maryland and Louisiana —fourteen members and to fill vacancies in Ohio, in place of R. Dickinson, deceased ; Vermont in place of Geo. P. Marsh, resigned ; and in Rhode Island and Massachusetts, where, according to the majority law, there were failures to elect at the regular elections. Cause and Cost of War. —Fir William Molesworth stated in tho British Parliament, last year, that the war with tho Kaffirs in Africa, which cost the British nation £2,500,000, (12,- 000) was occasioned by the loss of one axe and two goats, which were alleged to have been stolen by the Kaffirs. Red River.. —The Natchitoches Chronicle, of the 18th furnishes some further particulars of the disastrous overflow of Red River. The pres ent is the highest state of water ever witnessed by the inhabitants ofthe country. The country has experienced a general inundation, and the loss to planters must bo immense. They, how ever, are said to hoar their misfortunes with be coming fortitude. On or about the lltli,the rise ceased. Since that time it has fallen at Natchi toches only’ some six or eight inches, leaving the places still under water. The prospect is not very encouraging, judging from the follow ing from the editor of the Chronicle : “ The calamity came upon us suddenly— when the whole valley was blooming with cot ton blossoms, and the planters expected still to make tolerable crops despite the lateness of the season and the incessant rains. But we have now to record anew calamity, and it is, that all those crops scattered over the whole country off from the liver, are being rapidly destroyed by the army worm. The destruction of the entire crop, with very inconsiderable exceptions, may now be regarded as complete. There will not be made corn enough to feed the population und the stock left, and the last are now suffering dreadfully for grass, as all their old feeding grounds are under water. To add to these ills, ifany were needed, it is greatly feared that un less we have frequent rains to wash off the sedi ment left by the receding waters, a malaria will lie generated, fatal to the public health ; and thus our cup of ills will run over, indeed ! The woods around this town are now filled with cat tle, driven across the river to keep them from starving. This is a sad picture ! We only re gret that it is all true.” From Texas —Williamson is probably elect ed from the district represented in the last Con gress by Pilsbnry. Kaufman had no opposition, The lowlands ofTexas are almost inundated by the heavy rains of the past month. The prai rie roads were covered with water in many pla ces, and fears were entertained of very great damage being done to the cotton on the level country in tho vicinity of the coast. No further news concerning the Indians. The Secret Expedition. —The New Or leans Picayune, 24th ult. says : The sudden ap. pearnnee of the U. £. sloop-of-war Albany off Round Island, on Wednesday evening Inst, Tre ated some excitement there, where are congre gated about four hundred of the men enlisted for the secret expedition, which has caused so many speculations and rumots. The rank and file being ns yet entirely ignorant of their desti nation, take but little interest in the matter, but there is evident considerable uneasiness among those in command, although they profess to fear no interruption. Every tiling is quiet on the island, and we be lieve the meri are better supplied witli provisions than they were at first. No military discipline isobserved, and we are informed that the me,n are allowed to visit Pascagoula and the neighbor ing shores whenever ther choose. We hear that after tho embarkation, which is shortly to take place, the men are to be informed of the object und destination of the expedition, and that such of them as wish to return to the city will be al lowed to do so. The Rail Road. —The Ringgold Republi can ofthe 25 ult. says : T/ic work on the exten sion is progressing rapidly. The Depot at this place is nearly completed, and the bridges be tween here and the tunnel are nearly finished. From present appearances we would juJge that the ears will reach here, for the transportation of passengers and ofproduce, by tire middlo of Oc tober at farthest. The Manchester Road. —The Wilmington Journal »ays : “A private letter from Gen. liar lee, states that the meeting of the Directors, held recently at Sumtervillc, was attended by a large number of citizens. The utmost harmony pre vailed. Gen. 11. stales that the additional sub scription taken in old Sumter will exceed $20,- 000. No doubt is now entertained that the South Carolina State subshription can be easily secur ed when deemed necessary. O’ We learn from the Charleston Mercury of thogoth ult. that I)r. Davis has returned to S. Carolina, fiom Turkey, bringing with him seve ral Cashmere and Thibet Goats, Brahmin Cat tle, Angora Cuts, Water Oxen, &c. which he supposes will do well at the South. He has also in view the project of establishing a direct line of steam ships between Charleston and Liv erpool. We have long since desired to see this scheme carried out, which when accomplished would induce direct importations, and thus save millions of dollars to the South annually. HrTlie first Annuel Fair of the South Caro lina Institute will commence in Charleston on Wednesday, 17th October next. Cold Plague in the West.—A correspon dent ol the M Louis Republican, writing from Quincy, Illinois, August 2d, states that— About the year 1816, the people of the wes tern country suffered by a disease called the Cold Plague. From vvliat I have heard concerning it, it was a most fatal disease—taking off its victims in a few hours, or days at most. Sixteen years afterwards, 1832, vve had our first visitation from cholera ; and precisely sixteen years after 1832, which brings us to the latter period of 1848, we have another visitation from cholera. What these awful fact? are intended to teach its, if any Pro vidential anger is really connected therewith, we should endeavor to loam. If there is any natural cause for it—if it is not purely acciden tal, it might also he of importance to the philoso. phie among us to learn and find out.” dT* Two new post offices have been establish ed as follows: “Bern,Green County,Wisconsin,” and “Kossuth, Washington County, Maine,’ with a view to perpetuate, as far as possible, the names of the brave and victorious actors in the Hungarian war. (Dr* The present rate of fare through from New Orleans to New York is $5 to Mobile, $1 () to Montgomery, $26 to Charleston, S2O to Balti more, $3 to Philadelphia, and $4 to New York —total SO6.